BT Premiership

AYR 12

CURRIE CHIEFTAINS 14

By Elena Hogarth

ROUND 13 of the BT Premiership was unlucky for Ayr as they were beaten 12-14 by Currie Chieftains at a wintery Millbrae on Saturday.

The two sides had met twice already this season, with Ayr beating Currie in the previous league meeting and just sneaking a win in the first round of the BT Cup last month, and for the visitors, revenge was a dish best served cold.

Temperatures had plummeted in Alloway in the afternoon but the pitch was still in perfect condition, and the teams enjoyed early bursts of running rugby.

Ayr got off to a good start, captain Pete McCallum’s speed around the park belying his size. His fellow back row player George Stokes has swift footwork too, and he combined that with his strength to get Ayr’s first try, which fly-half Scott Lyle converted.

Cool, calm Currie were not worried, and they set about their tasks on the pitch with patience and determination. They were helped by referee Sam Grove-White who reached for a yellow card twice in quick succession, and Ayr were suddenly down to 13 men with full-back Grant Anderson and prop Steven Longwell in the sin-bin for professional fouls.

Currie didn’t get over-excited at the two-man advantage and Ayr didn’t panic, but it was inevitable that the men from Malleny would get a try. It was sheer opportunism from Currie scrum-half Charlie Shiel that saw him pounce on a loose ball at Ayr’s scrum and scurry away for the score. Full-back Jamie Forbes added the two extra points.

Another try came just as quickly through centre Robbie Nelson, who cut through midfield with ease more than once during the game. Forbes converted just before half-time.

Ayr were more than capable of a fightback in the second half, and the young guns led the way, centre Stafford McDowall and hooker Robbie Smith showing just why they are Scotland Under-20 caps and tipped for the top in the senior game with speed, skill, strength and industriousness in abundance.

It was Smith who burrowed over for a try from a line-out drive. Lyle’s conversion attempt hit the post.

A reshuffling of the Ayr team – when scrum-half Lewis Young was pole-axed by a no-arms tackle – didn’t help. He was escorted off the pitch, meaning Anderson went to scrum-half, Craig Gossman moved to full-back and Jamie Bova came off the bench to cover the wing. Scott Sutherland then replaced Stokes, with second row Blair Macpherson moving into the back row.

Ayr tried hard to catch up Currie but they couldn’t move up the gears. Anderson had the best of the opportunities, spotting a gap right in front of the posts. Sadly, the veteran didn’t have the pace to make it to the line and ended up lobbing the ball straight into Currie hands.

The home team, however, did well not to leak any further points as Currie looked likely to cross the try-line. Ayr centre Paddy Dewhirst was fierce in the tackle, as was Longwell, who also went on a joyous break through midfield, bashing at least three defenders out of the way as he charged for the line. He had Glasgow Warriors’ Ryan Grant in support but the former Scotland and Lions prop found himself isolated and turned over.

Lyle did have a chance to get Ayr into the lead with a kick at goal, but the ball drifted away to the side of the post. This missed penalty cannot be blamed for the loss though. Ayr didn’t take their chances elsewhere and Currie Chieftains were just the better team on the day.

“I’m hugely disappointed,” said Ayr head coach Calum Forrester, “because I felt we had them up front, but errors cost us.”

Meanwhile, it was a better day for Ayr 2nd XV who beat Currie Chieftains A 18-17, with tries by Cameron Reece, Johnny McCorkindale and James Armstrong, with the latter kicking a last-minute penalty to seal the win.

Ayr-Wellington Under-18 boys beat Melrose Wasps 48-8 in the preliminary round of the National Cup.