Ayr 20 - 19 Llandovery: Ayr hang on to sustain B&I Cup dream

AYR, like Scotland later in the afternoon, were posted missing when their cross-border clash with their Welsh visitors kicked off at noon on Saturday. But, unlike the national team, the Millbrae men put in a stirring second-half display, edging home by a single point.

This victory keeps alive their hopes of becoming the first Scottish side to reach the knock-out stages of the British & Irish Cup, with victory over Doncaster Knights in their final group match on Sunday week likely to see them into the last eight.

Ross Curle and Howard Thomas exchanged penalties before Rhodri Williams touched down the opening try. With Llandovery lock Giles Vaughan in the sin-bin, Ayr responded with a try by Steven Manning.

Visiting winger Jake Randell added to the visitors' try tally and, with half an hour left, Ayr trailed by 8-19. Andy Dunlop then surged over, Curle converting, and after a sustained spell of pressure, Dunlop touched down his second with a pushover try. Despite a late Llandovery rally, Ayr held on to go to second spot in the group.

Scorers: Ayr: Tries: Manning, Dunlop (2); Con: Curle; Pen: Curle. Llandovery: Try: Rhodri Williams, Randell; Pens: Thomas (2); Drop goal: Thomas.

Ayr: Anderson; Manning, Curle, M Stewart, Taylor; Fergusson, McFarlane; Reid, Fenwick (Adair), A Kelly (Sykes), D Stewart (Sutherland), D Kelly (Nimmo), Colhoun, Dunlop, Tippett (Burke). Not used: Steele, Siwo.

Llandovery: Sauro; Randell, Bowen, Grundy, Rogers (Evans); Thomas, Rhodri Williams (Allen); D. Williams, Yelland (Kajaks), Howells (Ryan Williams) (Jones), de Marigny, Vaughan, Day, Aiono, Fitzgerald. Not used: Johns.

Referee: M Carley (RFU).