SAME time, same place, same result, writes Elena Hogarth Only the opponent was different for Ayr on Saturday as they again let a victory slip through their fingers.

It was Melrose’s turn to punish Ayr’s errors and indecision in the BT Premiership at Millbrae.

It was all smiles in the crowd as it was announced over the tannoy that Frazier Climo was a late replacement for David Armstrong at fly-half.

Returning to Ayr over the summer after a period of professional rugby with Llanelli Scarlets in Wales, Climo wasn’t expected to make his comeback from a broken leg so soon, but with Armstrong joining the ever-growing list of injuries to key players, his experience was welcome.

And what a return it was. Climo was first on the score sheet, after winger Richard Dalgleish sliced the Melrose defence to ribbons and timed his pass perfectly for the twenty-eight-year-old to fly over for a try. He wasn’t able to convert his own score.

Dalgleish, brought in for an injured Kerr Gossman, was electric with ball in hand all afternoon, and was unlucky not to get over the try-line. Things were a bit shaky for Ayr as flanker Andrew Dunlop got on the wrong side of the referee and found himself in the sin bin for ten minutes, and Melrose’s Joe Helps kicked three points.

Ayr held firm in the scrum, despite Dunlop’s absence, and it was a much more assured performance from the forwards than the week before. After what seemed like a ridiculous amount of line-outs, scrum-half Alistair Price sold a cheeky dummy and raced away for a try, with Climo getting the extras.

Another pulsating try was added just after half-time, this time by Robbie Fergusson, fresh from making his professional debut for Glasgow Warriors the week before alongside fellow Millbrae man Fergus Scott. The ball flew through several hands, including Scott’s, on its way to Fergusson, who used all his strength to fight his way over the line with a Melrose defender desperately clinging to him. Climo converted this one too.

With barely forty-five minutes on the clock, the crowd relaxed and perhaps Ayr were guilty of doing the same thing. Melrose are one of the most consistently good teams in the BT Premiership and can never be counted out. The fight-back began with another Helps penalty. Climo and Fergusson each had a shot at goal yet both kicks were deemed to have missed.

A drive from a Melrose line-out saw their number eight Graeme Dodds go over for an unconverted try. There were now just eight points in it, but it did look like Ayr would claim their bonus-point fourth try. It was a black and yellow shirt that shot off, though, worn by Melrose’s ever-dependable full-back Fraser Thomson. He had touched down in the corner before the Ayr defence knew what had happened. With no conversion, it seemed Ayr would hold on for a win. But they didn’t hold on to the ball, working hard to secure possession before kicking it away, for unknown reasons. Melrose winger Sam Pecqueur took full advantage of this moment of indecision to streak away for a try, this time converted by Richard Taylor.

For Ayr head coach Calum Forrester, there was a sad sense of déjà vu at the final whistle and said afterwards: “We’re bitterly disappointed. We got in a winning position and didn’t finish it off again. This is something we’ll need to look at.” All eyes will be on Ayr to see if they can turn things around when they enter the bear’s den that is Netherdale to take on Gala on Saturday.

For the full story see this week's Ardrossan and Saltcoats Herald.