Watsonians 24 - 22 Ayr: Minto takes treble chance to stun champions

Published on Thursday 9 April 2009 00:27

WATSONIANS survived a late scare to record a narrow victory over Premiership Division 1 champions Ayr in last night's rearranged league fixture.

A Richard Minto hat-trick helped the Edinburgh side to an unexpected win, but they had to rely on a late penalty miss from the Ayr full-back, Grant Anderson, to wrap up the points.

The home side were quick out of the blocks as Minto burst through the visiting defence and touched down under the posts inside the opening five minutes, leaving Scott Kennedy with a simple conversion. Ayr hit back with their first serious attack, Scott Sutherland touching down.

The expected onslaught from the champions failed to materialise as Minto grabbed his second try after an excellent break from James White.

With 32 minutes played, a speculative Ayr kick into the corner looked to be harmless until an awkward bounce allowed Stuart Magorian to touch down. Watsionians scored a third try right on the stroke of half-time as Tupu Saena capitalised on a long kick from Kennedy to outrun the home defence.

The 19-10 scoreline remained until the 53rd minute, when Minto ghosted through the Ayr defence to complete a marvellous treble.

The champions then started their comeback, substitute Stevenson scoring and Damien Kelly also doing so ten minutes later. Watsonians' lead was down to two points, but Ayr were left to rue the late penalty miss.

Scorers: Watsonians: Tries: Minto (3), Saena. Cons: Kennedy (2). Ayr: Tries: Sutherland, A Wilson, Stevenson, Kelly. Con: Anderson.

Watsonians: N Montgomery; E Sana, R Minto, J White, M Learmonth; S Kennedy, J Blackwood; T Howes, E Crawford, D O'Connell, J Thrush, A Tweed, I Condell, S MacInally, M Fedo. Subs used: M Kerr, TCallander, D Nutsford, N Tunnah, C Findlater.

Ayr: G Anderson; A Wilson, J Montoro, S Magorian, R Holland; R McCallum, B Steel; G Sykes, P McArthur, S Fenwick, S Sutherland, S Nimmo, J Wilson, G Tippett, A Dunlop. Subs used: G Reid, D Kelly, G Siwo, J Rae, A Stevenson.