Ayr 34 Melrose 15

This was the game which Ayr needed to confirm that they are on track to defend their Scottish Hydro Premier 1 title because even with a nineteen point deficit, the result at Millbrae flatters Melrose who were looking at a 34-3 scoreline as the game entered the final eight minutes.

Yet, with both sides on equal points in joint second place in Scottish Hydro Premier 1, prior to the game the Ayr support were anxious as to how their team would fare coming off their first league defeat last week as they prepared to face a side growing in confidence as the season has progressed.

They need not have worried since Melrose displayed all the traits Ayr had at Mayfield the week before against Dundee, second to the breakdown, hesitant in the contact area and with their dangerous backs getting the ball on the back foot, they became easy targets for some voracious Ayr tackling.

Scott Wight had the first chance to get the scoreboard rolling in six minutes but pulled his kick wide then when presented with a similar opportunity three minutes later, Frazier Climo nailed the opening points for Ayr. He did the same six minutes later after it took three Melrose tacklers to haul down center Mark Stewart and with the visitors backs in total disarray, came the first try.

Paul Burke's superb burst had set up the field position for the attack, Richard Higgins blatant take out on Climo resulted in a penalty and although Climo missed the shot, Melrose were unable to get out of the danger zone and when a lazy pass was popped, it was the Ayr No10 who added to his tally as he ghosted in to intercept, score and convert.

Scott Wight opened the Melrose account with a penalty but it was sandwiched between a couple of Climo strikes, the second after Higgins had been given the yellow card he had been lucky to avoid previously, and Ayr went in 19-3 up at the break.

It was as good a forty minutes as Ayr have played all season, the front row edging the scrums, Damien Kelly and Scott Sutherland, when he wasn't ruling the line out, making some big carries and the back row of Burke, the rock solid Glen Tipett and Jon Crossan, whose work rate and turnover count were outstanding, laid the foundation. The backs built on it with relish, Climo and Jamie Hunter varying the game, Mark Stewart a formidable midfield general with Ross Curle his sprightly cohort and while Cammy Taylor has been consistent since his return from Australia, the biggest step up was made by Steven Manning and Dougie Steele who had their best outings by far, both asking serious questions of a fragile Melrose defence.

It was more of the same in the second half although Melrose did up their game a notch or two but still found themselves either playing their rugby too far away from the danger zone or perishing on some ferocious Ayr defence. Climo claimed his fifth penalty, then took his haul to twenty four as he converted Hamish Mitchell's try and what a special moment it was for the big Kiwi prop whose spell in Scotland with Glasgow Warriors has been less than productive but who has shown up as a quality player when turning out for Ayr and his obvious delight in scoring was a joy to watch.

When Dougie Steele crossed for try number three it was no more than the full back deserved after several counter attacks which had forced Melrose into desperate defence and it looked as though it would be bonus for Ayr and near humiliation for 'Rose.

Credit to the Greenyards men, they stuck to it and grabbed two late tries from Rob Chrystie and John Dalziel with Wight converting the first but anyone suggesting that it was consolation to Melrose needed only to look at their demeanour at the final whistle to realise that they took this defeat very hard indeed.

In patches of the second half they had tested the Ayr defence but the determination to defend the line was epitomised by the extraordinary sight of former pro flanker John Dalziel, a very useful citizen around the park, being driven from around eight yards inside the Ayr twenty two to ten yards beyond it.

Coach Kenny Murray was delighted.


'That was our best performance of the season, particularly in the first half because Melrose are a very good side and we simply

didn't let them play.'

'Our focus was good during the build up and we knew how important it was to do well in this one with both sides being on level

points in second place and it was very important to bounce back after last week at Dundee. There was no better game to

have as a challenge and I felt that we responded really well to that challenge.'

'Our work rate was high, our aggression and chance taking were first class and our defence was outstanding and I would say

that the win came from the performance of the back row and midfield in shutting down the Melrose threat although every one

of our squad did what was asked of them this week. It was certainly the most physical game I have seen this season and the

passion in the contact from both sides was fantastic.'

'We now have three games to target, against Stewarts Melville, Selkirk and West before we meet Currie at Millbrae so we

have to make sure we maintain the standards we set in this one.'

"We have players to come back in Andy Dunlop, Andy Wilson, Grant Anderson, Johnny McClung and AJ McFarlane so that

takes us back to where we can be."

So on Saturday it is off to Inverleith to face a winless Stewarts Melville who prop up the table. Five points will be on offer and

if Ayr pick up maximum from two out of the next three, the clash with Currie at Millbrae on November 7th will be yet another

of the classics between the two sides.




> Ayr

> D Steele; S Manning, R Curle, M Stewart, C Taylor; F Climo, J Hunter; G Reid, S Adair, S Fenwick, D Kelly, S Sutherland, J Crossan, P Burke, G Tippett

> Subs G Sykes, H Mitchell, B Hendry, S Nimmo, J McCrossan

> Melrose

> F Thomson; C Anderson, J Murray, J King, B Allen; S Wight, S McCormick; K Cooney, L Gibson, R Higgins, B Runciman, S Johnston, J Dalziel, N McTaggart, G Dodds

> Subs W Mitchell, A Gillie, G Elder, R Chrystie, A Dodds

> Referee A Healy