Apart from the enormous fillip which Scottish rugby got from the nail biting win by the international side at Croke Park, it was not a great few days for other Scottish sides in Ireland. Glasgow Warriors, Scotland U20 and the club international side all went down with varying degrees of what coaches now refer to as 'positives' and in each case there was an Ayr involvement.

Flanker Paul Burke was called into the Glasgow squad to face Magners League leaders Leinster at the Royal Dublin Showground and had most of the second half involved in a game which the pro side lost 20-14 but did pick up what could prove to a crucial bonus point in Glasgow's attempt to hold on to a top four spot and make the play offs.

Ayr coach Kenny Murray who is assistant coach with the Scotland U20 squad watched his side go down 44-15 at Dunbarry Park, Athlone to a powerful Ireland outfit who were by far the best they have encountered in a campaign which has seen them win one draw one and lose two against Italy, Wales, England and Ireland while the club international side lost 21-18 at Donnybrook to the last kick of the game. Damien Kelly, Gordon Reid, Scott Sutherland and Andy Dunlop were all in the fray and despite the disappointment of losing, Kelly was chosen man of the match.(highlights on www.scottishrugbytv.com)

But hang on a minute. Lets get some 'positives' of our own in here. It has to say an awful lot about what is happening at Millbrae if players and coach from Ayr are being involved at all these representative levels. Only Currie can come anywhere near that sort of involvement and it can be no coincidence that these two are currently the top two club sides in Scotland so they must be doing something right and it would be no surprise to see the two clubs not only battling to the end for the Scottish Hydro Premier 1 title but, if they can avoid each other in the draw, possibly clashing in the Premier Cup Final at Murrayfield on April 24th.

The quarter final draw of that competition pitches Ayr against Gala at Millbrae on Saturday (ko 3pm) and although any border side, particularly one with the proud history of the Netherdale club, can never be taken lightly, it would be a major upset if Ayr didn't progress to the semi-finals. Ayr had another week off last Saturday due to the representation in the club international side but Gala come to Ayr off a 32-27 win against Kirkcaldy at Beveridge Park but it is perhaps a pointer that they were 25-0 ahead at half time only for the home side to pull back right into the game only to lose to the only Gala score of the second half with Graham Spiers getting the winning try. Spiers and Lee Miller are two players Ayr will have to keep an eye on but the overall power of the Millbrae men coupled with the sort of experience they have picked up in the British and Irish Cup should be enough to see them through.

In the other quarter finals, Howe of Fife are at home to Currie, Melrose travel to Perthshire and newly promoted Stirling County take on a rejuvenated Heriots side who won their postponed tie against Dundee at Mayfield last Saturday.

After the draw, coach Kenny Murray said "I am happy that we have got another home tie but it is a pity that none of the other Premier 1 sides face each other because if we get through that would be one less we would have to worry about!"

Depending on how they progress in the cup, Ayr face a daunting final seven matches in the Premier 1 league run-in and as things stand at the moment, they are scheduled to finish with Dundee at Millbrae on May 15th with the crucial game against Currie at Malleny Park on May 1st with Melrose, Selkirk, Hawks and Selkirk away and West at home. Things could change before then of course but however the dates for the seven games are scheduled, it is a huge challenge which will test Kenny Murray and his squad to the utmost.