Damien Kelly insists Ayr have learned from opening loss

Published on Thursday 26 November 2009 23:00

AYR captain Damien Kelly believes his players have learnt valuable lessons from Sunday's opening British & Irish Cup loss to Doncaster as they prepare to welcome Rotherham to Millbrae in the event tonight.

A whirlwind start from Doncaster – which saw them take the lead after just seven minutes – led to a 32-7 defeat for Ayr.

Ayr did show flashes of what they are capable of at Castle Park five days ago and Kelly feels he and his charges will be much better prepared for tonight's encounter, which kicks off under the lights at 8pm, thanks to the experience.

He said: "Doncaster really came flying out of the blocks in the first 20 minutes and it took us a while to get up to speed as it was different to anything we have faced in Scottish Hydro Premier One this season. After that we began to compete much better and although we let them in for a couple of soft tries we started to get to the levels required for this event."

Ayr should be cheered on by a bumper crowd at Millbrae tonight with numbers well in excess of the 1,500 that saw them take on Currie recently expected.

Second-row Kelly has already had notice from friends in Edinburgh and Dumfries that they will be travelling to take in the game and he is glad to see Scottish rugby in general supporting themselves and Heriot's in the competition.

"By all accounts Heriot's had a pretty good crowd down to watch them play Nottingham last weekend and it will be pleasing to have other supporters from around the country to swell the numbers."

Former Glasgow forward Gregor Hayter helped Championship outfit Rotherham to the top of Pool D last weekend with a 52-10 thumping of Birmingham & Solihull and he is on the bench tonight along with ex-Currie prop Colin Quigley. The former Glasgow prop Ben Prescott starts, while winger Andrew Henderson will be one to watch out for.

For Ayr the influential Frazier Climo could come back at stand-off, but his place would be at the expense of Jonno Crossan or Mark Stewart due to only two foreigners being allowed in the squad.

Also tonight, Heriot's are on the road to take on Coventry (7.45pm) looking to build on last week's 5-0 defeat to Nottingham.

Tomorrow a much-changed Gael Force side make another long trip to take on Exeter Chiefs at 3pm in Pool A. Coach Stephen Gemmell has made nine changes to the team that lost to the Cornish Pirates, with Scotland A man Colin Gregor and Dave Callam among the notable additions.

Selkirk hand a first league start tonight to their new signing from New Zealand, Jon Smyth, in tonight's Scott Hydro Premier One match at Boroughmuir. Ryan Crockatt also returns to the squad after an injury lay-off, but Rory Aglen, the lock, is out with a dislocated finger suffered in last weekend's Border League defeat at home to Hawick.