PHYSICALLY stronger, Ayr also made better use of the wind and mastered the rain to win for the second year in a row at Mansfield Park on Saturday.
Ayr manager Ronnie McKinnon singled out Fraser Climo, their stand-off recruit from Taranaki, as a key influence. "He stood out well. I am more than happy with him and he is a good find," said McKinnon, who also conceded the weather had its say. "We
thought it would be difficult in the second half with the wind, but I do not believe Hawick utilised it as much as they should have."
Hawick's territorial kicking was too erratic and for Hawick coach Jim Hay, two losing bonus points in their opening matches is a failure. "We could have played the conditions better. We are not far away, but over the past two games it's a difference between eight points and two points," he said.
Keith Hedley put Hawick ahead with a try in five minutes, but a counter Climo, who converted and kicked a penalty, gave Ayr the advantage. Glen Tippett's second-half try, converted by Climo, and penalties by Neil Renwick and Craig Neish completed the scoring.
Scorers: Hawick: Try: Hedley. Pens: Renwick, Neish. Ayr: Tries: Climo, Tippett. Cons: Climo 2. Pen: Climo.
Hawick: G Johnstone; C Murray, G Hogg, R Scott, K Hedley; N Renwick, K Reid; N Little, M Landels, G Scott, G Petrie, C Charters, D Lowrie, K Rawali, K Davies. Subs used: B Campbell, C Neish, M Raikiso, R Borthwick, M Cramp.
Ayr: R McCallum; A Wilson, J Montfro, S Forrest, R Holland; F Climo, A McFarlane; G Reid, P McArthur, S Fenwick, S Sutherland, D Kelly, J Wilson, C Forrester, A Dunlop. Subs used: G Sykes, P Burke, G Tippett, D Steele, G Anderson.
Referee: D Changleng.
Attendance: 1,500
The full article contains 313 words and appears in The Scotsman newspaper.
