Ayr 51 - 5 Aberdeen Grammar: Second-half surge maintains Ayr title drive

SCORERS:

Ayr: Tries: Fergusson, C Gossman (2), Wisnewski, Diez, Reid (2), Dalgleish, Anderson; Conversions: Jerecevich (3).

Aberdeen GSFP: Try: Knudson.

The men from the Granite City might have lost six of their previous eight league games, but none of these losses was as heavy as this, as Ayr finally wore them down in a one-sided second half, during which they scored seven of their nine tries.

But before then, it at times took all of Ayr’s much-vaunted defensive qualities to keep the Northmen at bay.

Ayr coach Kenny Murray was appreciative of a new SRU initiative, which gave the two club coaches access to the match officials’ radio feed. “Access to the officials’ link is great for us,” said Murray. “We know better why the whistle blew and we can keep our guys up to speed.”

Murray was also more than happy with the result. “We can build on this result in the second half of the campaign and, while we maybe played too much rugby too far from their line, when we turned the screw in the second half, we got the tries we wanted”.

Aberdeen, in many ways were the architects of their own downfall, particularly with a loose kicking game, which saw Ayr return poor clearing kicks for five of their nine tries.

Full back Grant Anderson was particularly effective in his thrusts from deep. One or two were akin to Andy Irvine’s runs from deep in the much-different rugby landscape of 40-years ago.

With one try and five assists, he was a “skoosh-case” for the Man of the Match award. Anderson played the pivotal roles in Ayr’s two first-half tries, by Robbie Fergusson and Craig Gossman.

Hooker Hayden Wisnewski’s try was down to the home pack, as was Gordon Reid’s first effort. His second was a solo effort, the re-telling of which will bore his Glasgow Warriors team-mates rigid this week.

But Anderson was involved in the other second-half tries – by Gossman, replacement Sylvain Diez and Richard Dalgleish, before finally getting the try his performance deserved.

For Aberdeen, replacement Sam Knudson’s second half try was a case of rage against the dying of the light, but was no less than they deserved.

Ayr: G Anderson, C Gossman, R Fergusson, R Dalgleish, C Taylor, F Russell, PO Jerecevich; D Mutamangira, H Wisnewski, G Hunter, N Campbell, S Sutherland, J Eddie, A Dunlop, C Forrester (capt). Subs used: D Young, G Reid, C White, R Doneghan, S Diez.

Aberdeen Grammar: S Aitken, E Oag, C Anderson, J Knight, A Hales, G Clow, J Lauder; M Dixon, S O’Connor, S Corsar, S Smith, M Douglas, G Ryan, T McGuinness, C Eyre. Subs used: S Bingham, N Fraser, A Crammond, M Ryan, S Knudson.

Referee: L Linton.