Marr 6 Ayr 19

Ayr beat Marr at a damp and soggy Fullarton in the BT Premiership.

It was the first competitive meeting between the two sides in nearly 40 years and the sidelines were packed with expectant fans. If they had been expecting a game of free-flowing rugby, they would have been disappointed, as a war of attrition ensued.

The hosts were the first on the board, thanks to a Colin Sturgeon penalty. 3-0.

Marr were full of attacking intent early on, and Ayr captain Pete McCallum, props George Hunter and Steven Longwell, fly-half Paddy Dewhirst and full-back Grant Anderson had to grit their teeth and put in the tough tackles.

Barely ten minutes were on the clock when tempers flared and referee Sam Grove-White sent Marr captain Angus Johnston and the aforementioned Anderson to the sin bin.

Scott Lyle stepped up to the kicking tee after a dangerous tackle on Dewhirst got Ayr the penalty. 3-3.

Sturgeon replied moments later. 6-3.

Ayr fought hard for possession and were beginning to batter through the Marr defence, Tommy Spinks - the flanker turned second row turned flanker again - being the battering-ram-in-chief.

A spate of injuries for Ayr had forced several reshuffles throughout the week and on the day itself, with Spinks moving into the back row with McCallum and George Stokes, Michael Badenhorst starting in the second row and Gregor Henry taking his place on the bench.

All the changes and overwrought atmosphere of a long-awaited Ayrshire derby didn't seem to bother teenage half-backs Dewhirst and Harry Warr. They were calm and focused throughout, and even let their creativity show on a dreich day, Warr's eye for a cute popped pass releasing Frazier Climo, who was playing at inside centre.

Dewhirst put in a cross-field kick but the referee brought Ayr back for advantage and Lyle kicked the penalty. 6-6.

Ayr winger Craig Gossman was bobbing about, just waiting for a pass to fly on to, but the match took a turn for the worse with a series of ineffectual kicks for territory, knocks-on and turn-overs that came to nothing.

Marr had the stuffing knocked out of them when second row Kyle Hatherell was shown a red card for a dangerous tackle. Lyle kicked the points for Ayr. 6-9.

The home team rallied, Glasgow Warriors' Greg Peterson - a former Ayr draft player - leading the charge, and they displayed great courage to press for the line. Ayr held them up.

They had two scrums on the five-metre line, and at the second, McCallum appeared with the ball and Ayr cleared their lines. A few kicks more, and Ayr had possession again, hooker Lewis Anderson motoring through the purple shirts, with Lyle, the other Anderson, Longwell and centre Danny McCluskey in support.

Half-time brought some respite for players and fans alike. But it was straight back into a cauldron of tension and emotion in the second half.

Sturgeon missed a penalty kick just after the resumption, but his team didn't let up when they had the ball in hand, Stokes, second rows Badenhorst and Jonathan Agnew and Longwell exhausting themselves in defence.

Lyle, Badenhorst, Gossman and Spinks linked up nicely when Ayr regained possession, and Gossman was on the receiving end of a lovely inside pass from Dewhirst, with Warr, Spinks, McCallum and Agnew in support. But that purple and gold defence was determined.

Again, all structure went out the window, the occasion seemingly getting to both sets of players. The referee had a tight grip on the game, and marched Marr back ten metres for mouthing off.

Ayr found their composure in the final quarter, McCallum leading from the front, with Hunter on his usual devastating form in the loose.

Hard work from Agnew, Lyle, both Andersons and Longwell, and jinking footwork by Dewhirst, created opportunities for Ayr. But the ball was later knocked on from a line-out. Ayr just used their bulk at the scrum though, shoving Marr and turning over. Again, Marr showed bravery and resilience and held Ayr up to prevent the try.

However, the hosts' next attempt to stop a score was illegal and a penalty try was awarded to Ayr. 6-16.

McCallum charged from the back of a scrum and McCluskey zig-zagged through the defenders, but Marr were later caught off side, and Lyle kicked his fourth penalty. 6-19.

Ayr brought on replacements Jamie Bova and Sam Graham, the latter making his BT Premiership debut and putting in a fierce tackle almost straight away as Marr had a final hurrah. They were pinged for holding on, with Lyle booting the ball off the park to bring a bruising afternoon to an end.

Final score: Marr 6 Ayr 19.


Photos courtesy of Alan Graham. Please contact Alan before using his images.

- Elena Hogarth.

Smith is September player of the month

Robbie Smith has been voted the September player of the month.

It was a close online poll, with the 18-year-old front row player winning by just one vote.

Smith has impressed throughout the month with energetic performances at both prop and hooker. He receives a £50 voucher from Slaters Menswear.

Marr v Ayr preview

It's the first leg of the BT Premiership Ayrshire derby between Ayr and Marr on Saturday, as the Troon club hosts the current league champions.

With a 3pm kick-off, supporters are advised to arrive early at Fullarton and to car share/be dropped off where possible as parking is very limited on what will be a huge day for rugby in Ayrshire.

On the pitch, it's another game for both teams as the BT Premiership reaches the sixth round. Ayr are a place above Marr in the table and will be focused on carrying on their good form of the past fortnight.

Ayr head coach Calum Forrester is cautious, however, as Marr have fully embraced life in the BT Premiership.

"We are under no illusion as to how difficult the task will be. But the players are relishing the challenge."

A number of players who have previously been involved with Ayr in some capacity pepper the Marr squad. In the Ayr ranks, Ryan Grant returns to the bench after Glasgow Warriors released him for the weekend.

Stafford McDowall and Robbie Smith miss out due to illness and injury. Frazier Climo and Lewis Anderson take their respective places, with the former combining with Danny McCluskey to create a dynamic centre duo, and the latter bringing his pace and power to an already speedy and strong front row.

Tommy Spinks and Jonathan Agnew team up in the second row in place of the injured Robert McAlpine and Scott Sutherland, and Paddy Dewhirst and Harry Warr make a lively half-back partnership.

Ayr
15. Grant Anderson; 14. Scott Lyle, 13. Danny McCluskey, 12. Frazier Climo, 11. Craig Gossman; 10. Paddy Dewhirst, 9. Harry Warr; 1. George Hunter, 2. Lewis Anderson, 3. Steven Longwell; 4. Tommy Spinks, 5. Jonathan Agnew; 6. Blair Macpherson, 7. George Stokes, 8. Pete McCallum (c).

Replacements
16. David Young, 17. Ryan Grant, 18. Michael Badenhorst, 19. Robbie Nairn, 20. Jamie Bova.

Kick-off 3pm. Follow the scores live on Twitter.

Ayr 2nd XV play Hamilton 2nd XV at Laigh Bent on Saturday in BT National Reserve 1, kicking off at 3pm.

September player of the month poll open

The September player of the month poll is now open!

Get voting for your favourite player of the past month. The poll features everyone who has appeared in a match-day squad for BT Premiership fixtures throughout September.

The vote closes on Friday at midday, with the winner announced soon after.

Vote here.

Ayr 46 Stirling County 33

Ayr retained the Cairdeas Quaich in a dramatic, exciting match against Stirling County in the BT Premiership at Millbrae on Saturday.

The sun was shining, the beer was flowing for Oktoberfest and there was a great atmosphere for both sets of players to compete in.

It was the visitors who got on the board first. After full-back Jonny Hope missed a kick at goal, teenage winger Logan Trotter raced away for a try between the posts, which Hope converted. 0-7.

There was a long delay as Ayr second row Robert McAlpine was attended to by both medical teams and left the pitch. He was replaced by Gregor Henry, himself a late addition to the squad.

Ayr had their hands full with the lively County team but they were level-pegging in attack, winger Craig Gossman leading the charge, with centres Stafford McDowall and Danny McCluskey buzzing about the park all afternoon too.

The men in pink and black have an extremely mobile front row, and props George Hunter and Steven Longwell were involved in the run-up to the Ayr's first try, the former blasting through the County defence and the latter flipping the ball to winger Scott Lyle, who scurried over. The conversion was right on the touchline but Lyle made it look easy. 7-7.

The big story had been the return of three former Ayr players to Millbrae in County colours, but that tale never left the page to materialise on the pitch. Gossman the elder caused his brother Kerr - in his first season at Stirling after a spell at Glasgow Hawks last year - to spill the ball but their paths never crossed again during the match. More of Messrs Curle and Jericevich later.

Ayr lost Longwell to injury, with Robbie Smith moving to prop to make way at hooker for Lewis Anderson.

The home backs were gelling well, with the back row of George Stokes, Blair Macpherson and Pete McCallum injecting energy into the proceedings too. Fly-half Frazier Climo muscled over for a second try for the Millbrae men. It was another conversion attempt from the touchline and Lyle got this one too. 14-7.

McCluskey broke away in mid-field but was abruptly halted by a high tackle by Stirling County's Ross Curle. From the penalty line-out, Hunter sped off, with McDowall, Climo and that industrious back row of Ayr's making light work of the County defence until Lyle lined up another kick - a penalty this time - and nailed it. 17-7.

There was little to separate the two teams in the set pieces, and chips and high balls were employed by both to gain territory and try and spark some creative attack. Lyle was involved in both, his chipped kick bobbling past Curle nicely, and then he was under a high one from the ensuing County line-out, and managed to get it away to his team-mates as black, red and white shirts engulfed him.

The crowd took exception to the off-the-ball man-handling of scrum-half Harry Warr and this sparked the usual squaring up and shoving, but the refereeing team calmed the situation and Ayr got a penalty. A series of scrums followed, rather taking the zip out of the game until McCallum marched for the line only to be held up.

A couple of scrums later and Macpherson got the ball down for the try, with Lyle adding the extras. 24-7.

The second half began with a few comings and goings. Robbie Nairn made his Ayr debut, replacing Gossman on the wing. Joining Gossman on the sidelines for ten minutes was Hunter, who was shown a yellow card along with County prop Remy Chies for an unknown misdemeanour. Henry followed for a professional foul, meaning it was thirteen against fourteen for a few minutes.

Ayr were spirited in defence, but they couldn't catch Hope, who scored a try and converted it. 24-14.

Hope was the main man for Stirling. With Curle looking harassed, largely thanks to Ayr full-back Grant Anderson, it was Hope's dancing feet that did the damage. Not long after his first try and conversion, he got his second. 24-21.

Smith had run himself ragged, and the robust front rower took his leave to be replaced by David Young as Ayr fans started to get nervous with just Lyle's earlier penalty separating the two sides.

County were looking to clear their lines but they didn't see the 6'3" Nairn looming down on their little half-backs. He charged down the kick, spun round, picked up the ball and bulldozed his way to the try-line for a score that got the Millbrae faithful on their feet. Lyle's conversion looked like it was going over but it hit the upright. 29-21.

Curle managed to shake off the attentions of Anderson long enough to release Kerr Gossman, who flew up the touchline for an almost certain try had it not been for a perfectly-timed tackle by McCluskey that propelled Gossman off the pitch before he could ground the ball.

It was Ayr's turn to charge up the wing, but it was second row Michael Badenhorst - like Henry and Young, a late addition to the match day squad - who took off before popping the ball to Lyle, with the winger getting his brace. He converted his try too. 36-21.

After a busy afternoon, Stokes took his leave, with Paddy Dewhirst coming on and the reshuffle of backs becoming forwards causing uncontested scrums.

Ayr were caught napping, and Peter Jericevich - a former Ayr scrum-half playing at fly-half for County - whizzed over for a try that Hope converted. 36-28.

There was still so much more to come from this match. McCluskey hit the ball like a train, with Lyle backing him up and flying into County defenders and Nairn in on the act too. But it was the quick thinking of Warr that got Ayr their sixth try of the day. Not waiting for anyone or anything, he picked up the ball and bounced over for a cheeky try. Lyle couldn't convert. 41-28.

Ayr's youngsters and new boys were having a great day, not so much Curle, who found himself completely flattened by his former centre partner McDowall.

The 19-year-old centre was soon powering up the wing like a man possessed, using all his bulk to escape the defenders and, like Warr, scoring his first try in an Ayr shirt. It went unconverted. 46-28.

McDowall was back in the thick of things with Nairn and Lewis Anderson but he was tackled in a dangerous fashion by Curle, who was lucky not to land himself in the sin bin for his recklessness.

Instead, it was Climo who, moments later, was yellow-carded for kicking the ball away after a great burst by Dewhirst came to nothing.

County got the final score, scrum-half Ruairidh Swan nipping in for an unconverted try. 46-33.

With a few minutes left on the clock, Ayr still had the energy and enthusiasm to go looking for more points, McCallum showing guile and leadership not to let County snaffle away possession. Lewis Anderson and Lyle were on the look-out but the final whistle went before they could get near the try-line again.

Final score: Ayr 46 Stirling County 33.

Slaters Menswear man of the match: Scott Lyle.

Match sponsor: TCS Construction. Ball sponsor: Hall Thomson.


In the 2nd XV match, Ayr beat Stirling County 28-24. Ayr flew into the lead but County came back in the second half, getting themselves a one-point lead with eight minutes to go. But Jamie Bova's try sealed the victory for Ayr. James Pinkerton, Adam Paxton and Lewis Young also scored tries, with Matt Davidson converting one and adding two penalties to see them to the win in the BT National Reserve 1. Cameron Reece was the man of the match.
- Elena Hogarth.

Ayr v Stirling County preview

Ayr and Stirling County compete for the Cairdeas Quaich at Millbrae on Saturday, kicking off at 3pm in the BT Premiership.

The additional silverware marks the friendship between the two clubs but the teams will be putting that to one side until the final whistle as they battle for points in the league. County are currently second and will be looking to maintain that spot, whilst on the back of an encouraging win against Currie Chieftains last weekend, Ayr are focused on moving up the leader board.

"Last week was a much improved performance," says Ayr head coach Calum Forrester. "The challenge for us is to put in a performance for the full 80 minutes this weekend against a Stirling side that is full of confidence having started the season strongly."

Three former Ayr players return to Millbrae in County colours, with Ross Curle, Kerr Gossman and Peter Jericevich starting against their old team-mates.

In the Ayr squad, the starting line-up is unchanged from last week. Tommy Spinks is named on the bench after shaking off an injury, and Robbie Nairn could make his debut after joining the club in the summer.

Ayr 1st XV
15. Grant Anderson; 14. Scott Lyle, 13. Danny McCluskey, 12. Stafford McDowall, 11. Craig Gossman; 10. Frazier Climo, 9. Harry Warr; 1. George Hunter, 2. Robbie Smith, 3. Steven Longwell; 4. Robert McAlpine, 5. Scott Sutherland; 6. Blair Macpherson, 7. George Stokes, 8. Pete McCallum (c).

Replacements
16. Lewis Anderson, 17. Adam Prentice, 18. Tommy Spinks, 19. Paddy Dewhirst, 20. Robbie Nairn.

Kick-off 3pm. Follow the scores live on Twitter. 


The 2nd XV also play host to Stirling County in BT National Reserve 1.

After drawing with Currie Chieftains A last week, Ayr look to return to their try-scoring form.

Once again, there is a good balance of young talent and experience in the squad, with Stuart Fenwick making a possible comeback off the bench.

Ayr 2nd XV
15. Johnny McCorkindale; 14. Jamie Bova, 13. Matt Davidson, 12. Sam Graham, 11. Cameron Taylor; 10. James Pinkerton, 9. Lewis Young; 1. Ruairidh Sayce, 2. Stuart Collier, 3. Fraser Miller; 4. Seth Rae, 5. Adam Paxton; 6. Craig Brown, 7. Gregor Henry, 8. Cameron Reece.

Replacements
16. Stuart Fenwick, 17. Alistair Hutton, 18. Logan Richardson, 19. James Armstrong, 20. Sam Gray.

Kick-off 3pm. Follow the scores via the Ultimate Rugby App.

Currie Chieftains 15 Ayr 24

Ayr got back to winning ways with a 24-15 win against Currie Chieftains in the BT Premiership at Malleny Park.

The visitors were calm, cool and collected from the off, the forwards bossing the early set-pieces, whilst the backs were full of controlled precision.

Second row Robert McAlpine led the charge in the loose, with centre Stafford McDowall handing off to maraud his way up the pitch. Scrum-half Harry Warr, second row Scott Sutherland and prop George Hunter - the latter two on their return after a few weeks' absence - kept the ball moving quickly until a long pass from fly-half Frazier Climo found Craig Gossman, who stepped in off his wing.

Play then switched to the other side, with Hunter in the thick of the action. His nicely timed pass was seized upon by captain Pete McCallum, who motored over for an excellent try. Winger Scott Lyle easily converted. 0-7.

The work-rate only increased from there, Gossman ready to spring onto any loose pass by Currie, McCallum and Lyle ready to spring onto any Currie attacker.

After a free kick at the scrum for Ayr, hooker Robbie Smith mowed down the home defenders and Gossman suddenly shot off like a rocket up the touchline and over the whitewash for a try. Lyle got the tricky conversion. 0-14.

Even when the Chieftains were lively with ball in hand, big tackles from Smith, McDowall and flankers Blair Macpherson and George Stokes stopped them in their tracks. They forced the turnover, and Stokes broke away. A few kicks followed, then Climo barged through the bodies with McDowall and Gossman in support. But the game came to a halt with Currie second row Hamish Bain stretchered off, injured.

Currie had a penalty line-out but the throw went too far, and although they got the scrum when Ayr knocked on, they were pinged and later gave away another for not rolling away. It was in a good position for Lyle and he summarily got the three points. 0-17.

Lyle was back at the tee moments later after his brilliant catch and run got Ayr back into the Chieftains' half; centre Danny McCluskey deftly popped the ball to McCallum and the captain got his brace. Lyle converted. 0-24.

Currie had a chance to get on the board just before half-time but the penalty kick by fly-half Jamie Forbes was missed.

Ayr carried on harrying and harassing the home team at the start of the second half, Climo and McCallum the thorns in their side. McCallum dotted the ball down over the line but the teams were called back for a knock-on.

Currie then felt the full force of the Ayr pack, as they were bullied off the ball at the scrum. McCallum, McDowall, Smith, McCluskey and Hunter swept through the home defence but the ball was knocked on before they could get to the try-line.

Glasgow Warriors' Brandom Thomson made his Ayr debut, replacing full-back Grant Anderson. Sutherland soon followed Anderson to the sidelines, but for ten minutes in the sin bin after a prolonged discussion between the refereeing team. Although it seemed Warr had been tackled high, it was his team-mate Sutherland who got the yellow card for an earlier unknown infringement.

From the penalty line-out, Ayr turned over and Warr cleared. But Currie took that line-out quickly and winger Ben Robbins scurried away for a try. The conversion angle was too wide for Forbes. 5-24.

Currie began to get a hold on the game and would have been headed for the try-line again were it not for a superb flying tackle by Stokes, with excellent follow-up defence by Climo and Macpherson.

Lyle had a final kick at goal, but missed this time.

Still, it looked like Ayr might get that bonus-point fourth try, Climo and Thomson combining nicely to move play out of their own half. A couple of handling errors put paid to any such hopes.

Smith and McDowall took a well-earned rest, and were replaced by the equally energetic youngsters Lewis Anderson and Paddy Dewhirst. Soon after, Michael Badenhorst replaced Sutherland, who had returned from the sin bin for a few minutes.

Badenhorst was straight into action with some hefty tackles, as was Gossman, but Currie's backs had a spring in their step, and no sooner had slippery centre Harvey Elms seemingly been halted than he was away for a try. Forbes missed the conversion. 10-24.

The home fly-half burst through the Ayr defence for a fine try under the posts but he inexplicably missed the kick for the extras right in front of the sticks. 15-24.

A hefty tackle on Gossman left the diminutive winger splayed on the turf, but he was able to get to his feet and thankfully walk unaided to the sidelines, meaning McDowall was back on for the last few minutes.

Both teams searched for one last try but neither could find it.

Final score: Currie Chieftains 15 Ayr 24.


In the 2nd XV match, James Armstrong scored a try for Ayr, converted by Matt Davidson, who also kicked four penalties. But Chieftains A came roaring back in the second half, and it was 19-19 at full-time. Sam Graham was Ayr's man of the match.


- Elena Hogarth.