Ayr Ladies 12 Hillhead/Jordanhill 79

Ayr Ladies put in a performance to be proud of at Millbrae on Friday night as they went head-to-head with one of Scotland's best teams and gave the big crowd something to shout about.

Hillhead/Jordanhill has a long and proud history of producing international players and reaching more cup finals than you can shake a stick at. When the team last visited Millbrae to take on Ayr in the Sarah Beaney Cup semi-finals earlier this year, they showed just why they're so revered. This time, however, they didn't get things all their own way.

The power, pace and skill of the visitors were on show right from the off, and they opened the scores with a converted try early on. 0-7.

The ladies in pink and black knew they would have to get stuck into tackles and get stuck in they did, stand-off Catherine Shennan, winger Connie Griffiths and centres Catriona Cowan and Julie David leading the way.

The scrum took a battering at times, but the front row of captain Laura Turner, Lauren Gunn and Louise McLauchlan, shored up later by replacements Lisa Croniken and Michelle Nelson, did well under immense pressure.

Number eight Lynda Morgan managed to pick up from the back and make a break, with full-back Claire Law, Gunn, Turner, Shennan and scrum-half Emily Irving in support.

Flanker Kelsey Swift was not only looking for gaps in attack but tackling her heart out in defence, the diminutive back rower dragging down players twice her size.

Along with second rows Joanne Jones and Phoebe McDowall, she got Ayr into an attacking position in Hills' twenty-two and when the ladies from Hughenden strayed off-side, Law sprang into action, scurrying round the defence and over in the corner for a try. Shennan couldn't get the touchline conversion. 5-7.

The visitors replied with three converted tries in a row, their powerful forwards smothering Ayr and their lively backs finishing up. 5-28.

Ayr knew to expect fireworks from Hills, and instead of standing back and gazing at the show, they got their heads down and worked hard.

Swift and Gunn, voted the players of the match by Ayr and Hills respectively, were tireless in defence. Griffiths attacked well along with flanker Rachel Morrison when they wrestled possession away from the visitors.

It looked like another score was imminent as Hills pressed relentlessly towards Ayr's line. But some sterling work by the Millbrae women saw them turn the hot shots over and Morrison flew through their defence, running this way and that until she was into their half, fending off tacklers and lobbing the ball brilliantly over their heads to reach her backs.

Hills were pinged for a high tackle, but although Ayr could scent the try, they gave away a penalty themselves and Hills were off like a runaway train for yet another converted try. 5-35.

A solid scrum from the home team unleashed Griffiths, Shennan and Cowan, whose fantastic pass found the hands of David, who blasted her way through the defenders for a stunning try that Shennan easily converted. 12-35.

Hills swarmed all over Ayr, and even though Turner, McLauchlan and Croniken were firing the ball at speed, they were turned over. Big tackles from Cowan and winger Ann-Marie Connelly couldn't stop the juggernaut. The final try before half-time was unconverted. 12-40.

An unconverted try for Hills got the second half off to a start, quickly followed by another. 12-50.

The scrum was under pressure, but Irving did well to retrieve the ball and get it away to Shennan. However, they were beginning to get bullied and the turnovers kept coming.

Ayr had a great one of their own though, replacement Rachael Mulholland working hard at the breakdown.

But Hills couldn't be halted, and they claimed two further unconverted tries. 12-60.

It wasn't quite the pasting the scoreline suggests. Ayr camped out in Hills' twenty-two for several periods. the line-out held firm and despite the exhausting tackles, they didn't tire.

Even when three more Hills tries were scored - two converted - Ayr Ladies looked anything but despondent.

Morrison, Shennan, David and replacements Lisa Main and Kirsty Wilson were excellent with ball in hand, Morrison having the vision to chip over the top of the marauding Hills defence and chase. They couldn't get another score, alas.

When the final whistle came, both sets of players and their supporters showed their appreciation for a terrific game of rugby. They're just a few matches into their first season in the BT Premier League, but Ayr Ladies are growing in confidence with every performance.

Final score: Ayr Ladies 12 Hillhead/Jordanhill 79.

- Elena Hogarth.

Ayr v Stirling County

It's back to the home comforts of Millbrae for Ayr on Saturday as they welcome Stirling County in round seven of the BT Premiership, kicking off at 3pm.

They have put last week's loss to Boroughmuir behind them and set their minds on retaining the Cairdeas Quaich, which the two clubs have played for over the course of the last two years.

"Last week was hugely disappointing," says Ayr head coach Calum Forrester, "but the players have reviewed the game and are looking forward to getting back into action against Stirling."

It's a slightly reshuffled squad, as Ross Curle returns at centre to partner Danny McCluskey, and Richard Dalgliesh starts on the wing.

D'arcy Rae has been released by Glasgow Warriors and makes up the front row with Steven Longwell and David Young, with prop George Hunter having a foray at flanker for the day.

New addition to the squad Ruaridh Mackenzie will possibly make his debut from the bench.

Robert McAlpine starts for Glasgow Warriors in their Guinness Pro12 match away to Zebre.

It's Oktoberfest on Saturday at Millbrae, with Bavarian-style guest beers from West and Drygate breweries in Glasgow, food, and live music in the clubhouse after 7pm.

Ayr
15. Grant Anderson (c); 14. Richard Dalgliesh, 13. Danny McCluskey, 12. Ross Curle, 11. Craig Gossman; 10. Frazier Climo, 9. David Armstrong; 1. Steven Longwell, 2. David Young, 3. D'arcy Rae; 4. Craig Stevenson, 5. Scott Sutherland; 6. George Hunter, 7. Will Bordill, 8. Blair Macpherson.

16. Robbie Smith, 17. Ruaridh Mackenzie, 18. Gregor Henry, 19. Jamie Bova, 20. Stafford McDowall.

Stirling County
15. Jonny Hope (c); 14. Craig Pringle, 13. Jake Cresswell, 12. Fraser Lyle, 11. Bruce Sorbie; 10. Ross Jones, 9. Nemia Kenatale; 1. Colin Hutton, 2. Reyner Kennedy, 3. Adam Nicol; 4. Hamilton Burr, 5. Ruairidh Leishman; 6. Matt Emmison, 7. Shaun MacDonald, 8. Struan Robertson.

16. Mark Hunter, 17. TBC, 18. Harry Henderson, 19. Matt Donaldson, 20. Ryan Elliston.

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

Ayr-Wellington U18s v Stirling County U18s is at 2pm at Millbrae. Ayr 2nd XV v Hamilton 2nd XV kicks off at 3.30pm at Millbrae, and can be followed via the Ultimate Rugby app.

Boroughmuir 24 Ayr 11

There was disappointment for Ayr at Meggetland on Saturday afternoon as their unbeaten run in the BT Premiership came to a halt at the hands of Boroughmuir.

The home team were the livelier from the start, despite glimpses of attack from Ayr winger Cameron Taylor, centre Stafford McDowall, props George Hunter and Steven Longwell and stand-off Frazier Climo.

It was an ominous beginning for Ayr's set-pieces, as the line-out went awry and Boroughmuir gained the upper hand at the scrum.

Ayr's straying off-side gave Boroughmuir their first chance of points, but stand-off Chris Laidlaw's penalty hit the post.

Their backs were slick and sharp, moving the ball from touchline to touchline with ease.

Ayr scrum-half David Armstrong delighted the travelling fans with a great kick that he managed to retrieve and set off on a mazy run.

A penalty for Ayr gave them the line-out but Boroughmuir snaffled it, although their clearance was charged down by second row Robert McAlpine, fresh from his appearance for Glasgow Warriors the night before.

Ayr headed for the line but couldn't make it, although Climo later struck a successful penalty. 0-3.

Ayr's backs, led by captain Grant Anderson and winger Craig Gossman, launched a plucky attack. But again, the line eluded them and Climo's boot got them the points instead. 0-6.

Laidlaw replied shortly after. 3-6.

Boroughmuir full-back Dougie Steele enjoyed himself immensely against his old club, and it was his scintillating break up the wing that allowed prop Ross Dunbar to fly over for an exciting try. Laidlaw converted. 10-6.

Ayr lost Taylor to a head knock, with Richard Dalgleish replacing him and getting stuck into attack after a break by Armstrong, with centre Danny McCluskey in support. Dalgleish got bundled into touch before he could reach the try-line.

Ayr lost another player to injury, this time flanker Will Bordill hobbling off, and hooker David Young came off the bench and into the back row.

A long miss-pass from Armstrong set Dalgleish off again, with many a pink and black hand getting the ball from one wing to the other, but Gossman couldn't take it.

Boroughmuir swiftly headed for the try-line only to be held up. Ayr then forced them back into their own half but gave away a penalty. Laidlaw had a go from just over the half-way line but the kick was unsurprisingly short.

The home backs continued to demonstrate their speed in the second half, but it was lock Jamie Scott who grabbed the try just after the resumption. Laidlaw's conversion attempt from out wide was perfectly struck. 17-6.

Armstrong got Ayr going from a steady line-out, Climo, Young, hooker James Malcolm, Hunter and replacement prop Adam Prentice in support but those finishing touches were missing, and Boroughmuir's confidence was growing as they had the league leaders on the ropes.

Second rows Craig Stevenson and Scott Sutherland (on for McAlpine) were tough in defence but Boroughmuir just had that little bit more ruthlessness with ball in hand.

Ayr's attack was ragged, despite the best efforts of number eight Blair Macpherson, Gossman and Dalgleish.

Some swift moves at the line-out by Malcolm and Hunter opened up a gap for Armstrong to motor through but the scrum-half couldn't claim the try. He was determined in attack though, pirouetting out of tackles moments later.

Yet another Ayr player had to be escorted from the pitch due to injury, Anderson this time. He was replaced by Graham Hunter, making his 1st XV debut.

Boroughmuir found themselves down to fourteen men when Scott was yellow-carded for a deliberate knock-on, but his team-mates coped admirably with his absence, holding Ayr up over the line.

They couldn't do it a second time, Macpherson easily picking up from the back of a trundling scrum and dotting down for a much-needed try. Climo couldn't convert. 17-11.

Boroughmuir decided attack was the best form of defence, winger Jordan Edmunds dashing about to get the home fans on their feet. Tackles by McCluskey, Armstrong and Graham Hunter stemmed the tide briefly, but captain Craig Keddie scored for Muir at the base of the post. Laidlaw converted. 24-11.

There was still time for Ayr to claw their way back into it, and flanker Gregor Henry did some sterling work at the break-down but he was added to the injury list, sadly being stretchered off with a lower leg problem after some attentive care from both Ayr and Boroughmuir's medical teams.

Ayr just couldn't keep a hold of the ball as they looked for more points. Graham Hunter twice made breaks but found himself isolated.

Stevenson, McDowall, McCluskey and Macpherson were on to something, but a chip by Climo couldn't be collected by anyone and it was soon full-time, bringing joy to the Boroughmuir team (and their supporters), who deserved their win.

Final score: Boroughmuir 24 Ayr 11.

- Elena Hogarth.

Boroughmuir v Ayr preview

It's another trip east for Ayr as they visit Meggatland to face Boroughmuir in the BT Premiership on Saturday.

After a heartening win against Melrose last week to top the table and remain the only unbeaten side in the league, Ayr are hoping to continue in that vein this week. The home team will have other ideas.

"Boroughmuir will be looking to bounce back after some narrow losses in recent weeks despite playing some good rugby," says Ayr RFC head coach Calum Forrester. "Last week was our most complete performance of the season so far and we will be looking to improve on what was a mature and disciplined display."

In the squad, prop Adam Prentice makes his first start, with hooker James Malcolm returning to the line-up after missing out last Saturday.

After some good performances for the 2nd XV, Graham Hunter is amongst a dynamic group of substitutes and could make his 1st XV debut.

Craig Stevenson is promoted from the bench in place of Robert McAlpine, who has received a thoroughly deserved call-up to the Glasgow Warriors squad for their Pro12 game against the Dragons tonight.

Ayr
15. Grant Anderson (c); 14. Cameron Taylor, 13. Danny McCluskey, 12. Stafford McDowall, 11. Craig Gossman; 10. Frazier Climo, 9. David Armstrong; 1. George Hunter, 2. James Malcolm, 3. Adam Prentice; 4. Craig Stevenson, 5. Scott Sutherland; 6. Will Bordill, 7. Gregor Henry, 8. Blair Macpherson.

Replacements
16. David Young, 17. Steven Longwell, 18. Robert McAlpine, 19. Graham Hunter, 20. Richard Dalgliesh.

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

It's a 3pm kick-off for Boroughmuir 2nd XV v Ayr 2nd XV, and the scores will be updated via the Ultimate Rugby app.

Davie and Gregor share POTM

The first player of the month award has been claimed by back row Gregor Henry (above) and scrum-half David Armstrong (below), both of whom had 20% of the online vote.

It's been a rapid rise for Henry, who only made his 1st XV debut for Ayr this season and clearly caught fans' attention with his hard-working performances.

Armstrong had a remarkable recovery from nine stitches in his leg - sustained after a maul drove over the top of him at Heriot's - to come back and boss proceedings in some very difficult games.

The player of the month award is sponsored by Slaters Menswear.

Gregor is sponsored by Luce Bay Plant Hire and Davie is sponsored by Launch.

Ayr 11 Melrose 7

The good old west coast wind and rain couldn't dampen the spirits at Millbrae on Saturday afternoon as Ayr came through a stern test against Melrose to remain the only unbeaten side in the BT Premiership and top the table.

Both teams had racked up the tries in the first four rounds of league competition, but there was no chance of a high-scoring match in such damp conditions. It was going to be a case of sticking it out, and that was what Ayr did.

The visitors set their stall out early, running the ball from their own twenty-two, and when they lost possession, they quickly turned it back over.

Ayr thought they would have a bit of a saunter in the mud too, scrum-half David Armstrong, winger Cameron Taylor, centre Stafford McDowall, stand-off Frazier Climo, number eight Blair Macpherson and prop Steven Longwell moving the ball through the hands.

Inevitably, on such a day, there were errors aplenty and Melrose pounced on all.

The men from the Greenyards turned over in their own twenty-two and flew off. Full-back Fraser Thomson chased a kick into Ayr's half only to pull up with an injury that forced him to leave the pitch for the remainder of the game.

It was scrum-half Murdo McAndrew who claimed the ball and got over for the try, stand-off Jason Baggott easily converting. 0-7.

Ayr had the chance to get on the scoreboard but Climo's penalty kick just curved away from the posts.

After a good kick for touch by full-back Grant Anderson that slid through the hands of Thomson's replacement Struan Hutchinson to give Ayr the line-out, the home team set off for the line with flanker Gregor Henry leading the way, but they were called back for crossing.

Henry had another go a few minutes later from another Ayr line-out, with second row Scott Sutherland, centre Danny McCluskey and winger Craig Gossman in support. The points came from the boot of Climo, however, as he kicked a penalty. 3-7.

There were a few wayward line-outs from both sides, but Ayr hooker David Young safely got the ball to George Hunter in Melrose's twenty-two, and the prop delicately flipped it to Armstrong. The scrum-half spotted the narrowest of gaps but his pass back to Young went awry.

More slipping and sliding and knocks-on occurred until Melrose put boot to ball but flanker Will Bordill charged it down and kicked on. Macpherson and Henry could see space out on the wing but the referee spotted a forward pass.

Another Climo penalty got Ayr within a point of the visitors. 6-7.

There were further attacking chances for both sides just before half-time, but Melrose were scuppered by thumping tackles by Gossman, whilst charges for Ayr from Armstrong and second row Robert McAlpine came to nothing.

Melrose started the second half well and were looking to spark their creative backs with a cross-field kick but it just wasn't the day for it. Baggott had a penalty kick but missed.

Ayr got into a slow and steady mind-set, barging rather than running, with forwards and backs working together to gradually move out of their own half.

Sutherland can always be relied on to thump his way through the defence, and it was such a move that released Taylor, Hunter and Bordill. Climo's cross-field kick went into Melrose hands but they had strayed off-side and Climo's next kick was for the corner.

Again, Melrose were where they shouldn't have been and Climo lined up a penalty. The kick was unsuccessful but it was still live and Melrose had a job to retrieve it and clear with Ayr's forwards swarming all over them metres from the try-line.

Melrose found themselves down to fourteen men when prop Nick Beavon was sin-binned for repeated professional fouls, but Ayr found it difficult to take advantage until it came to scrum time.

They dominated with the experienced Beavon on the sidelines, and Armstrong twice propelled himself at the line, finally being held up by the black and yellow defence.

Ayr were strong at the scrum again and the ball flew out to Anderson who timed his pass to Taylor well, the winger stepping away from the touchline and leaving the Melrose defence confused enough so he could dive over for a try. The conversion angle was too wide for Climo. 11-7.

Ayr were quickly back into attack through Macpherson and later Armstrong, Longwell and McCluskey. Another penalty opportunity arose but Climo couldn't land the kick at goal.

The final ten minutes were edge-of-the-seat stuff for the packed stand as Melrose camped out in Ayr's twenty-two, taking line-out after line-out. But Ayr defended solidly, poaching and clearing, and Melrose just couldn't engage their backs.

A brilliant kick and catch by Anderson got Ayr out of their own half and with Melrose's other prop Jamie Bhatti shown a yellow card for a no-arms tackle, it was almost all over.

Macpherson, Longwell and McAlpine headed for the try-line but couldn't find a way through and Climo booted the ball off the pitch to bring the game to an end.

Final score: Ayr 11 Melrose 7.

Slaters Menswear man of the match: Cameron Taylor.


- Elena Hogarth.

Photos by George McMillan.

Ayr v Melrose preview

An exciting afternoon lies ahead at Millbrae on Saturday as Scotland's two best teams go head-to-head in round five of the BT Premiership.

A battle between visiting top dogs Melrose and hosts Ayr, who are just a point behind the Borderers in the table, fans can expect some excellent rugby, and it's not just the supporters who are keenly anticipating the tie.

"Ayr and Melrose have enjoyed a number of fierce encounters in recent years, and we look forward to the challenge," says Ayr RFC head coach Calum Forrester. "Rob (Chrystie, Melrose coach) has got his team playing well, scoring points for fun and posing threats right across the team. Likewise, our performances have been improving over the weeks, and with both teams looking to preserve their unbeaten start to the season, it is set to be a great match."

Ayr's squad remains settled five weeks into the season, and there are only a few changes to the team. Frazier Climo returns at stand-off and David Young moves to the bench, with James Malcolm taking over at hooker.

Malcolm's fellow Glasgow Warrior, Canadian international prop Djustice Sears-Duru is in line to make his Ayr debut from the bench.

Ayr
15. Grant Anderson (c); 14. Danny McCluskey, 13. Archie Russell, 12. Ross Curle, 11. Craig Gossman; 10. Frazier Climo, 9. David Armstrong; 1. George Hunter, 2. James Malcolm, 3. Steven Longwell; 4. Robert McAlpine, 5. Scott Sutherland; 6. Will Bordill, 7. Gregor Henry, 8. Blair Macpherson.

Replacements
16. David Young, 17. Djustice Sears-Duru, 18. Craig Stevenson, 19. Cameron Taylor, 20. Jamie Bova.

Melrose
15. Fraser Thomson; 14. Ross McCann, 13. Richard Taylor, 12. Craig Jackson, 11. Austin Lockington; 10. Jason Baggott, 9. Murdo McAndrew; 1. Jamie Bhatti, 2. Russell Anderson, 3. Nick Beavon; 4. James Head, 5. Ruaridh Knott; 6. Neil Irvine Hess, 7. Grant Runicman (c), 8. Ian Moddy.

Replacments
16. Cammy McKay, 17. Dan Elkington, 18. Ali Grieve, 19. Struan Hutchinson, 20. Nyle Godsmark.

Kick-off 3pm!

Ayr 2nd XV v Melrose Storm, 3pm.

Cumnock v Millbrae RFC, 3pm.