Ayr 29 - 23 Boroughmuir: Clinical Ayr survive forward battering

By MATT VALLANCE
Published on 29/10/2012 03:56

BOROUGHMUIR coach Fergus Pringle was still smiling at the end of this epic encounter – he has to, since he revealed his biggest current challenge as keeping his men’s heads up as they languish in the RBS Premiership basement.

The ‘Muir pack destroyed Ayr in the tight, but Pringle identified a lack of clinical finishing, too many turn-overs conceded and standing-off the opposition that allowed Ayr’s loose game to offset their tight problems.

But, on this form, you’ve got to feel ‘Muir’s position is a false one. Ayr coach Kenny Murray reckoned his men’s failure to build on a brilliant start led to their second-half worries and he rued a couple of failures to 
convert overlap situations.

“The ‘Muir pack were terrific but we were clinical when we had to be and if we missed too-many one-on-one tackles for my liking, I’ve got to be pleased with another victory.”

After their great start and tries from Grant Anderson and Richard Dalgleish, Ayr should have kicked on to clinch the game but, for the visitors, Ali Warnock kicked two penalties and converted George Turner’s try to make it a four-point game at the break.

The way Ayr drove Andy Dunlop over for the bonus-point try, while a man short after Nick Campbell’s 45th minute yellow card was the game-changer. Warnock’s conversion of Jordan Webster’s try had the home support biting their nails at 22-20, before Anderson’s line break put Craig Gossman over for their final try, converted by Finn Russell. Warnock’s third penalty in the final minute was too little, too late.

Scorers: Ayr – Tries: Anderson (2), Dalgleish, Dunlop, C Gossman. Cons: Jerecevich, Russell. Boroughmuir – Tries: Turner, Webster. Conns: Warnock (2). Pens: Warnock (3).

Ayr: G Anderson; C Taylor, R Fergusson, R Dalgleish, C Gossman; F Russell, P Jerecevich; D Mutamangira, H Wisnewski, G Hunter, N Campbell, S Sutherland, C White, A Dunlop, C Forrester. Replacements used: D Young, D Rae, R Doneghan, G Fisken, S Diez.

Boroughmuir: D Hoyland; R Guedroudj, M Clapperton, K Buchan, J Webster; A Warnock, S Johnson; R Wilson, G Turner, J Latta, G Scott, A Davidson, S Crombie, A Rose, J Swanson. Replacements used: K Coertze, A Henderson, A McLeod, A Watt, M Hare.

Referee: C Rudkin.