Ayr put a sluggish first half behind them to score five tries against Blaydon in their final pre-season match before the BT Premiership starts next weekend.
It wasn't a particularly good opening forty minutes for either side with each knocking on, throwing forward passes and finding themselves offside on occasion. There was an early blow for Ayr when experienced flanker Andrew Dunlop had to come off after taking a bash to the face. But this gave young back rower Ben Johnston the chance to stretch his legs.
In fact, it was the forwards who were making ground early on, with prop Nick Cox and hooker Stuart Fenwick on the charge before those pesky knocks-on spoiled things.
Blaydon's backs did a bit better, some smooth running and handling punctuating the errors, but one dangerous-looking break was firmly snuffed out by a superb tackle from young centre Danny McCluskey.
There were some shimmying runs by wingers Craig and Kerr Gossman and a gallop by Johnston, but the first points came from the boot of stand-off Gavin Lowe who kicked a penalty at the end of the first quarter. 3-0.
The visitors stepped things up through their inside centre who blasted his way through several tackles. He couldn't quite make it to the try-line but got Blaydon into a good position for a line-out. An infringement from Ayr followed, giving Blaydon another line-out only for them to knock-on.
Another handling error from Blaydon was quickly scooped up by scrum-half David Armstrong in their half and he sped off but chipped ahead with nobody there to chase.
Armstrong, moving from the second XV to the first this season, had the chance to atone a few minutes later when he shot across the field to track down a Blaydon attacker who had found himself in acres of space. Some assistance from Craig Gossman and full-back Grant Anderson prevented a score.
The Newcastle-upon-Tyne side couldn't be contained for much longer though and they scored out on the wing. It was unconverted. 3-5.
Blaydon yet again went on the attack, making the most of their possession to allow their second row to stretch a big paw under the posts. This time the try was converted. 3-12.
Line-outs and scrums continued to be scruffy but Ayr started to liven up a bit, number eight Blair MacPherson looking particularly alert to any opportunity to pounce on a Blaydon mistake. McCluskey and Craig Gossman made a break between them but it came to nothing.
The second half started just as messily as the first but Ayr seemed to have a bit more purpose. Craig Gossman put in such a thumping tackle on one poor Blaydon back that the ball bounced right out of his hands and into Gossman's, who shot off before passing to replacement Ross Curle. He was unfortunately shoved into touch but it perhaps lit a fuse.
Ten minutes or so later, Ayr held firm at the scrum in Blaydon's half and a good pick up from MacPherson allowed Johnston to barge to the line and Cox to go over for Ayr's first try. Curle couldn't convert. 8-12.
Cox was on good form, leading his troops to Blaydon's five-metre line. With bodies strewn all over the place, possession switched sides before Armstrong got his hands on the ball and scrambled over for a try. Curle got the conversion. 15-12.
Blaydon lost their concentration, sending the restart straight out and then infringing at the scrum. When they did reclaim possession, they threw a forward pass.
There was more woe for the visitors when they took their eye off the ball at their own scrum and MacPherson appeared out of nowhere to nab it and canter away for a cheeky try. Curle missed the conversion. 20-12.
Strong running from captain Dean Kelbrick and another big tackle from Craig Gossman helped Ayr along but there was still the odd error. It looked like Curle had made a mistake when he kicked away possession but the ball somehow ended up back in his arms and he sprinted under the posts for a try which he converted. 27-12.
A few more knocks-on followed; Kerr Gossman managed to tidy up but support was lacking. Locks Graham Williamson and Rob McAlpine each showed some good pace for such big men and it was the latter who got Ayr into a good position for the final try of the afternoon. The ball flew from McAlpine through the backs and into the hands of Craig Gossman who went over on the wing for an unconverted try. 32-12.
The standard of play may not have matched the beautiful weather at Millbrae but it was good to see the new players in action and has whet the appetite for next Saturday's opening league fixture against Gala.
- Elena Hogarth.
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