Boroughmuir 17 - 15 Ayr: Fringe players push ‘Muir centre stage

Boroughmuir’s fringe players took centre stage as the club’s good run continued with a battling win over Ayr on Saturday.

Back in January ’Muir’s season looked as if it was petering out, but three home wins on the spin have set them up superbly for this weekend’s RBS Edinburgh Regional Cup final with Heriot’s.

With a host of first team picks missing, it was fringe men such as Keith Buchan, Robbie Wilson, Ross Young and Alex Henderson who impressed against Ayr.

Buchan scored a try and looks assured in the full-back role, while props Wilson and replacement Young scrummaged well, and second-row Henderson looked the part .

Boroughmuir head coach Fergus Pringle said: “We really had to fight hard to win this game, but I think the fact that we held on for the victory says everything about the character of the squad. The last few weeks have been really good for us, there is a buzz about the guys again and we are really looking forward to taking on Heriot’s now.”

In an encounter begun at pace, by the 25th minute there were already 24 points on the board, and ’Muir winger Redha Guedroudj had been sin-binned. The hosts led 14-10 at that point, with converted tries from Buchan and centre Stevie Wilson against Ayr tries from scrum-half AJ McFarlane and centre Steven Manning.

That lead extended to 17-10 at the break thanks to a penalty by Ally Warnock, and it stayed that way until the 79th minute. For much of the second half Ayr were on the attack, but they only crossed the line again a minute from time through lock Scott Sutherland. Replacement Sylvain Diez missed the conversion that would have yielded a draw.