Ayr Rugy Club start cup bid with a trip to Plymouth

Jun 24 2011 Ayrshire Post (main ed)

A MERE seven weeks have passed, hardly time to get used to the sun block (aye right!) since Ayr last took the field in their 2010-11 Premier League campaign.

And although the domestic fixtures for next season are yet to be finalised, Ayr's cross border clashes in the British and Irish Cup have been announced (writes RON EVANS).

In the competition in which they reached last season's quarter finals, Ayr start with a trip back to the West Country to take on Plymouth on November 12.

Seven days later, Cross Keys visit Millbrae then on December 10, it's across the Irish Sea to take on Munster. Finally on December 17, B and I Cup holders and Ayr's quarter final nemesis Bristol pitch up at Millbrae.

Ayr president Billy McHarg reckons it’s a winnable section but added: “There is no doubt that Munster away will be one tough game. Plymouth away is a game we could win and we have to look at getting a result at home to Cross Keys and Bristol"

"I really believe if we had played Bristol at home in the quarter finals then we would have gone through and at least a quarter final spot has to be our aim again.

“We are still re-building but when the B and I comes around, I would hope we will have a side who will again compete in a way which brings credit to Scottish club rugby."

So how formidable is the draw which the president declared 'winnable'?

Plymouth finished third bottom with only Birmingham of Ayr's last season’s B and I opponents below them. Bristol edged Plymouth by five points, Rotherham by 11 and Doncaster by 15.

Cross Keys are Ayr's first home tie and are the sixth club out of the six qualifiers from Wales behind Pontypridd, who got the better of a travel weary Millbrae outfit, Neath, Aberavon, Llanelli, and Swansea and Cross Keys were a full 39 points adrift of champions Pontypridd.

Munster, of course, perpetuate the complaint which your correspondent has aired here and elsewhere that it would be much more in keeping with the spirit of the competition if the Irish entered genuine club sides rather than pro side development teams.

Still, it raises the challenge for the club sides and will put Ayr on their mettle for a revenge encounter with Bristol the following week in the final pool match at Millbrae where McHarg's prediction, given the final placings in last season's English championship, might just prove correct.

Damien Kelly, Glen Tippett, Gordon Sykes, Gordon Reid, Paul Burke, Scott Nimmo, Stephen Adair and Dougie Steele have all moved on.

Pre-season starts at Millbrae on July 6, new signings are on the cards, I've had my holidays so watch this space!