Callum Kerr @ Meggetland
The Ayrshire Bulls cruised to a 7-48 victory over Boroughmuir Bears this evening at Meggetland. A match played at break-neck speed – Pat MacArthur’s men managed to wrangle control of a contest that at times looked more like a Harlem Globe Trotters exhibition than a rugby game. Both sets of backs enjoyed the frantic nature of proceedings, but it was the Bulls pack and impenetrable set piece that kept them on the front foot.
The Bears pressed early courtesy of a handful of penalties but once the Bulls wrestled back possession on their line they ran the length to draw first blood. A Jamie Shedden break started it all before the ball was worked through the hands to Chris Elliot – who offloaded through contact to put Thomas Glendinning over. Brad Roderick-Evans couldn’t convert.
The Bears answered back in equally dazzling fashion. From a kick-return Josh Beveridge put a dink over the Bulls line, regathered and finished through a handful of attempted tackles. George Paul’s conversion put them 7-5 ahead after 12 minutes.
The frantic pace of the game continued and the Bulls looked like they were back ahead after 17 minutes, but the Bears’ defence did well to roll Bobby Beattie onto his back over the line and prevent the ball from touching down.
They couldn’t keep Beattie out for long. Five minutes later the centre carved through the line after a flat pass from Reiss Cullen hit him between two Bears. Roderick-Evans added the extras.
Another try followed shortly after. From a rolling maul Grant Stewart broke off and bumped his way through a cluster of tackles to make the line.
Beattie doubled-up before the half. In similar style to Beveridge’s earlier effort, he hacked a ball through the line before regathering and cantering under the posts.
Half-time: Boroughmuir Bears 7-24 Ayrshire Bulls.
After the interval the scoring dried up but the relentless pace didn’t. Both sides were hell-bent on playing at a rate of knots and keeping the ball alive. Terrific scramble defence kept the try line out of reach on countless occasions.
After the hour mark the Bulls settled for three points with substitute Christian Townsend keeping the scoreboard ticking from the tee.
With fifteen left to play the Bulls got back over the line. When the ref blew for a penalty on the Bears’ five metre Fergus Johnstone reacted quickly to tap and go, diving over with ease. Townsend made it 7-34 with the conversion.
From the restart an ill-timed turn from Blair Macpherson resulted in his shoulder making contact with the head of the Boroughmuir ball carrier. The clash resulted in the Bulls’ skipper seeing red and being sent for an early shower.
The man advantage didn’t last long for the Bears, with Joe Jenkins picking up a yellow on the 73rd minute for a tip tackle. From the resulting penalty the Bulls went to the corner and worked their way back over. Alex McGuire looked primed to score from the maul but had to wait a few more phases before crashing over under the posts. Townsend made it 7-41 with five to play.
Fergus Johnston dealt the final blow, picking up his brace in the process. Again from a maul, the ball was spun to Townsend who looked over had it not been for an excellent last ditch tackle. Johnston picked up from the resulting ruck and squeezed his way to the line.
Full-time: Boroughmuir Bears 7-48 Ayrshire Bulls
Bobby Beattie picked up FOSROC Player of the Match honours after another exhilarating eighty-minute performance in the midfield.