Ayr Rugby Club under 16s share the national trophy

May 13 2011 by Mike WIlson, Ayrshire Post (main ed)

AYR under 16s followed the 1st XV to Murrayfield – and like their senior counterparts brought home a trophy.

Four weeks after Ayr carried off the Premier Cup with that memorable defeat of Melrose, the Millbrae youngsters got their hands on the National Youth League U16 Cup.

Or should that be one hand on the cup (writes RON EVANS).

After a pulsating final on the international pitch on Saturday, they ended honours even against old foes Stirling County at 17-17 and under the rules of the competition, no extra time is allowed so the trophy is shared.

It was with a sense of déjà vu that I climbed the steps of the Murrayfield stand to the press box and watched pink bedecked supporters pouring in.

Not as many as pitched up for the cup final, of course, but enough to give the side a raucous support and encouraged the lads to provide a smashing game packed with incident, skill and drama.

It couldn't have started better for Ayr with a scorching break by Danny McCluskey setting up full back Liam Wallace for the opening try in just three minutes.

Two minutes later, Stirling No8 Billy Dineen was at the heart of a move which saw wing Ross Brooks cross to level the score.

Both sides had talent outside the scrum and were looking to use it but it was when Stirling decided to go for the hefty route that they started to get some momentum.

They camped on the line, the Ayr defence was solid but having sucked in the tacklers, when the ball was switched to centre Archie Russell, he went in unopposed.

Allan Sutherland converted for 12-5 but that was only served as a spur to Ayr who romped off the re-start kick to threaten the Stirling line. Although Gavin Lowe and Ruariadh Bottomley were held short as Ayr battered into the red zone, they were not to be denied with the pressure finally paying off when No8 Ben Johnston crashed over for Lowe to convert and tie the scores at half time.

The second half was more of the same and any thought that the players would be overawed by the surroundings or run out of steam on the Murrayfield pitch were dispelled as the action swung back and forth with both sides winning crucial turnovers as their opponents threatened.

The Ayr back three of Wallace, Jonathon Iannotti and Adam Macdonald looked sharp and with a player of the quality of McCluskey inside them, that was where a score looked likely to emerge.

But it was after splendid work by Robbie McKie and Gordon Gregor that set up Ben Johnston's second try and although Lowe's kick was just wide, Ayr knew that if they could hold on for 10 minutes the cup was theirs.

They were even more certain they had done enough but what looked like a perfectly good score was pulled back for a forward pass so all credit to Stirling in refusing to give up and in the final minute came the reward for their tenacity, wing Lloyd Hannah going over at the corner flag to tie the scores. Sutherland’s kick was just off target, the points were level and the final whistle went.

Both sides were a huge credit to their coaches and clubs and produced some startlingly mature rugby and the only sad feeling I had at the end was one I suspect may have been shared by the players themselves.

They accepted the rules of the competition, shared the award of the trophy but you could see it in the body language of both sides that they would have loved, say, another seven or 10 minutes each way to reach a result. It was a cup final after all.

Well done to coach Gordon Kotze and his team and the squad: Liam Wallace; Jonathon Iannotti, Andrew Mill, Danny McCluskey, Adam Macdonald; Gavin Lowe, Ruaridh Bottomley; Robbie Mackie, Gordon Gregor, Nicky McKissock, Ewan Bulger, Andrew Batton, Cameron McCormick, Ben Johnston, Angus Johnston; Andrew Cunnigham, Olli Rossi, Keir Tennant, Phillip Summers, Grant Baird, Ronan Hunter Blair, Blair Cooper.

Finally, Bristol Rugby, who beat Ayr in the quarter finals of the British and Irish Cup, won the cup on Saturday beating Bedford Blues 17-14. Seventeen of the Bristol squad which lifted the trophy were in the squad which faced Ayr. Go figure!

Highlights of Ayr under 16s’ cup final are on www.scottishrugbytv.com