Cartha Ladies 17-14 Ayr

Ayr ladies first action of 2018 was a narrow defeat to Cartha Queens Park Ladies yesterday at Dumbreck. Ayr got off to a flying start taking the lead in the first 15 minutes but it was Cartha who managed to tough it out in the second half.

With the season reaching its business end it was a game neither side wanted to lose. Ayr's number 8 Joanne Jones opened the scoring with a crafty chip-and-chase wrong-footing Cartha's defensive line. Catherine Shennan converted to make it 0-7.

Cartha weren't down for long. Ayr's defence held up well  throughout the contest but they had no answer for Cartha's menacing outside centre who ran in two tries to put them on top- their stand-off converted both.

The biggest point in the match came with ten to play when Cartha's 10 punished Ayr with a penalty to cushion their lead. 17-7.

As both teams entered the closing stages of the game Ayr began to fight back. Connie Griffths proved to be a menace breaking the gain-line with her runs. A consolation for Ayr finally came as scrum-half Rachel Morrison sniped in from close-range to guarantee the losing bonus point- Shennan converted to conclude the scoring at 17-14.

Shania Irvine picked pop MOTM.

Ayr Ladies now have a weekend off to re-group and prepare for Stewartry Sirens in two weeks time.