Ayr 31 - 40 Gala: Borderers secure cup berth
The game turned on the red-carding of Glasgow Warriors and Ayr prop Gordon Reid on the hour. Ayr, 23-0 down after 30 minutes, had battled back to trail 17-30; they had all the momentum when a breakdown on the Gala line erupted in fisticuffs, with Reid taking on four Gala forwards.
Lee Miller kicked three penalties and converted a solo try from George Graham, before Colin White’s unconverted try made it 23-5 at half time. With Ross Curle sin-binned, Craig Robertson scorched home and Miller converted, but back came Ayr through tries from Scott Sutherland and Reid. Then came the Reid red and a second fine try for scrum-half Graham. However, Ayr refused to give up and they were awarded a penalty try before Murray McConnell scored late on to end a pulsating game.