Ayr 28 - 10 Dundee HSFP

AYR’S new approach of playing fast, expansive rugby brought them their second successive bonus point win, at the expense of a disappointing Dundee, to stay right in the mix at the top of the Premiership table, writes Matt Vallance at Millbrae.

The new recruits from Glasgow Hawks quickly won over the home support through their part in the first Ayr try, in ten minutes – Peter Jericevich taking a quick tap penalty, bursting through then kicking over the top for Craig Gossman to pick up and romp home.

Ayr’s seven-point lead doubled in 23 minutes when Robbie Fergusson’s break inside the visiting 22 was carried on for the try by co-centre Richard Dalgleish.

The home side’s superb defence faltered just once, in 32 minutes, when weak tackling allowed Andrew McLean to sprint home from his own half for Dundee’s try. Then, in the final minute of the first half, Jack Steele’s penalty made it 14-10 to Ayr at the break.

However, Ayr stretched clear in 57 minutes with a superb solo effort from his own half by Grant Anderson, who was injured in scoring.

Six minutes later, concerted Ayr pressure paid off when Jericevich and skipper Callum Forrester made the initial drive, finished-off by the ever-alert Dalgleish for the bonus-point try, converted, as were the previous three, by Jericevich.

These are indeed changed days at Millbrae, and with ten tries in their opening two league games, this new brand of fast-flowing, running rugby clearly has the approval of the sometimes critical home support.

“This was another good, solid performance from us. Dundee struggled to keep up with our pace and we built on a good start,” said Ayr coach Kenny Murray.

“We played entertaining, go-forward rugby, which is what we were after, while, apart from that solitary lapse for their try, we defended well. I’ve got to be happy.”