Ayr 46 - Stirling County 22

STIRLING couldn’t be faulted for effort, but the Bridgehaugh side found it tough going on the west coast conceding seven tries to a stronger Ayr team; but to their credit County with an under-strength pack and limited possession responded with three-tries, in an entertaining premiership encounter in the Millbrae sunshine.

County were forced to make a substantial number of changes to their starting team that lost-out to Melrose the previous week, and which tested the depth of their playing resources particularly in the forwards with regular starters Mike MacDonald, Adam Nicol, Adam Sinclair, Ruaridh Leishman and Alex Taylor all unavailable, and Calum Hunter-Hill and Lewis Wynne with Glasgow Warriors in Italy.

Into the pack came props Mark Hunter and Colin Hutton along with second-row Stef Yarrow making his first start for the senior side. Hooker Matt Emmison was drafted into the back-row alongside Shaun McDonald at blindside and open-side flanker respectively, with Struan Robertson covering the No.8 position. In the backs, the centre-pairing of Fraser Lyle and Jake Cresswell returned, along with Matt Lamb on the left-wing. Blair Gilchrist, Adam Woods and Harry Henderson stepped up to the bench after recent solid performances for County’s Second XV. Jonny Hope continued to deputise as captain from full-back.

From the kick-off Ayr dominated possession and territory, and utilised their superiority in the forwards, pushing County backwards in a succession of scrums within their 22, but the visitors’ defence stood firm under intense pressure, until Ayr eventually found a gap in the Stirling rearguard with home flanker George Hunter storming through to score the opening try after 11 minutes play, with stand-off Frazier Climo’s conversion striking the post, giving the home-side an early five-point advantage.

County then prevented Ayr adding to their score with a try-saving touchdown as Ayr kicked ahead following a handling error by the visitors on half-way. County couldn’t retain possession and were kept pinned back in their own half. Sterling work by County’s No.8 Struan Robertson and scrum-half Nemia Kenatale in moving the ball away from the base of the retreating scrums repeatedly relieved the incessant pressure on the visitors and prevented Ayr from capitalising on their forward domination of the set piece.

Ayr added to their score on 20 minutes with a successful 25-metre penalty kick from Climo after County were caught off-side in centre-field, putting the home-side 8 – 0 ahead.

County refused to buckle and three minutes later, following their first incursion into the Ayr 22 from broken play, the visitors swiftly moved the ball from the base of the scrum to the right-side, and winger Matt Lamb finished off the passing move with a try in the corner, which was superbly converted from the right touch-line by Jonny Hope, to bring County back into contention at 8 – 7.

Two minutes later, County took the lead following a break from their own 22, with inside-centre Fraser Lyle brushing aside attempted tackles and carrying the ball 60 metres before offloading to the supporting Ross Jones who put in a grubber kick on the 22 and won the race to touchdown for a wonderful opportunist try, again converted by Hope, to take the score to 8 – 14 in visitors’ favour.

Ayr responded and on 31 minutes the home-side reduced the leeway to 13 – 14 with an unconverted try by right-winger Richard Dalgleish, who was on the end of a slick cross-field passing move and barged over the try-line to touchdown in the right-corner.

Ayr regained the lead four minutes before the interval, with a push-over try scored by No.8 Blair McPherson from a 5-metre scrum won against the head, converted by Climo.

Half-time: Ayr 20 – Stirling County 14.

County’s Adam Woods replaced Mark Hunter in the front row at the break.

Ayr took the initiative from the re-start with a length of the field passing move, aided by weak County tackling, finished off by full-back Grant Anderson who scored the home-side’s fourth and bonus point try in the left corner. Climo’s conversion again hit the post, but Ayr extended their lead to 25 – 14 after 41 minutes.

County were awarded a penalty for a high-tackle just inside the Ayr half, but Hope’s kick at goal fell just wide of the posts. The County full-back made amends on 47 minutes with a successful 30-metre penalty kick in front of the posts, after Ayr strayed offside, reducing the deficit to 25 – 17.

Ayr extended their lead after 50 minutes, with a try from Glasgow Warriors’ prop D’arcy Rae who pushed past the County defence to score a try under the posts, converted by Climo, giving Ayr a commanding 32 – 17 margin.

County rang the changes bringing on Ryan Ellison for Jake Cresswell in the centre, Matt Donaldson replaced Kenatale at scrum-half, Blair Gilchrist came on for Reyner Kennedy at hooker and Harry Henderson made his first XV debut at No.8, with Robertson moving to flanker to replace Emisson. The visitors pressed forward in the closing stages but couldn’t find a way through the Ayr defence.

Ayr scored two further tries through Anderson and James Bova on 73 and 75 minutes, both converted by centre Ross Curle, to increase their lead to 46 – 17, before County scored a last minute consolation unconverted try by Craig Pringle, after visitors secured and drove a penalty-line-out deep in the Ayr half, before moving the ball out wide for the winger to touchdown in the left-corner.

Full-time: Ayr 46 – Stirling County 22.

County’s Head Coach David Adamson was proud of the way his team played “particularly the guys who stepped-up from the seconds. He said: “We scored three decent tries and played some fluid rugby, but Ayr’s pack was just too-strong for us.”