Ayr Rugby Club warm up at Old Anniesland

Aug 6 2010 Ayrshire Post (main ed)

CONDITIONS for Ayr’s first run-out of the season were pretty dreich at Old Anniesland last Friday night when a mixed bag of a squad took part in the David Williams Quaich Tournament.

A loss to West in the opening encounter then a win against a Presidents XV led to a final match against GHA which saw Ayr come out on top.

But there were a few questions to be asked at the end of the evening prior to the first real pre-season match against Gala at Netherdale on Saturday.

Top of the list was the unusual pairing of David Craig and Scott Nimmo in the second row, a combination which pointed up the possible problem Ayr could experience early season with both of last season’s occupants by no means certain of being in the starting line up against Hawick on August 21 at Mansfield Park.

Damien Kelly is back from a sojourn in Australia but still has a fair bit of re-hab ahead before he recovers from an operation on his foot while Scott Sutherland is likely to be playing for Manley in Sydney until late September.

Assistant coach Peter Laverie said:“It was a worthwhile exercise and we will be taking a stronger squad to Gala on Saturday hopefully with at least a couple of players who were not available for last week.

“With regard to the second row situation, we have got back up here including Mark Stewart’s brother Dean who has just finished his season with New Plymouth Old Boys alongside Frazier Climo and Jono Crossan and looks like joining us in August.”

One of the plus points was the performance of Mark Bennett, the U18 international centre from Cumnock showing that he could well be pushing for a place in the top side while several of the fringe players involved showed Ayr will have strength in depth in certain positions but might find themselves stretched in others.

The early start to the season and the make up of the new look leagues were subjects Ayr Director of Rugby Jock Craig voiced his opinions.

He said: “I honestly feel that the season is starting too early. I think it’s crazy we are asking players to put their bodies on the line so soon after what was a very hard season.

“Given when the league actually finished for Ayr, Currie, Hawks and Heriot’s well into May, the players have not had a real break before they have been back in training and I hope I am wrong but I think that this could take its toll further down the line.

“I am particularly concerned as to how the top sides might suffer from the early start when the demands of various competitions kicks in and when we are looking for Currie Ayr and Melrose to be at their best when they are representing Scotland in the British and Irish Cup.

“I also feel that the new league structure leaves a fair bit to be desired and I really believe that it will be a harder season than last. If we are there or thereabouts again in the three competitions given the demands on the players I think we will have done very well.”

Training is back at Millbrae from Tuesday of this week and this will intensify as the trip to Gala looms. The once mighty Maroons may now be in Premier Two but they will be sniffing a morale boosting scalp when one of Scotland’s top sides pitches up at Netherdale and George Graham will have his troops champing at the bit for their first pre-season outing only two weeks before the start of the season proper.

With Ayr facing border opposition in their two opening games, a reiver rumble is just what they need to get them in the mood for clashes with Hawick then Melrose - ‘a pretty tough start’ as one Millbrae observer pointed out.

Hey, take a look at that league and tell me what would be an easy one, particularly since, in the short term, only the first 11 games matter.

Finally, just in case your heid was nippin’ like mine regarding the new league set up, here is the definitive word on how the points system will work.

The top eight sides after eleven games in Premier One will keep all the points they have won and then play a further seven matches to decide the title. The bottom four sides in Premier One and the top four in Premier Two will start from scratch with the top four after seven games attaining Premier One status for season 2011-12, essentially playing for promotion in the case of P2 sides and to avoid relegation for the P1 clubs.

The bottom eight in Premier Two will keep all the points they have won and they will play of to avoid the bottom two spots and relegation to P3. Now I am no Einstein but I am worried that there is a flaw in the top eight P1 set up as Jock Craig alludes to above but until it actually plays out and we see the second set of fixtures, we will have to wait and see.