Cardiff 30 - 27 Ayr: Ayr force not enough at Cardiff

AYR'S quest to finish their British and Irish Cup campaign on a high was dashed in heartbreaking style by streetwise Cardiff at the Arms Park.

It was the second week on the trot that the brave seasiders had been pipped at the post by vastly more experienced Welsh opposition.

Cardiff led 20-10 halfway, thanks to tries by Craig Morgan, Dan Preece and Rhys Jones, when Ayr skipper Damien Kelly was in the sin-bin, along with a conversion and penalty from Gareth Davies.

Ayr's reply was an Andy Dunlop touchdown, goaled by Frazier Climo, below, who also slotted a penalty.

The visitors then hit top form to surge into a seven-point lead with scores by Paul Burke and Andy Wilson, with Climo converting both efforts and adding a penalty.

But Ayr's anticipation turned to despair in a dramatic finale as Owen Ruttley went over for Cardiff – before Davies clinched it with the conversion and another penalty.