Currie 18 - 36 Ayr: Ayr batten down the hatches to triumph over Currie

The spectators were treated to a feast of entertainment as two sides needing wins to preserve their hopes of participating in next season’s British & Irish Cup served up a cracking encounter, writes Colin Renton at Malleny Park.

Currie were first to register on the scoreboard when Jamie Forbes darted between the sticks with two minutes on the clock then added the conversion.

Ayr responded with a quick-fire double, Gordon Reid ploughing over in the corner then Ross Curle winning the race to a kick ahead by Robbie Ferguson, and Andy Wilson adding the extra points.

Forbes trimmed the deficit with a penalty but the visitors hit back when Grant Anderson touched down, leaving Wilson a simple conversion. And they sealed the four-try bonus when Rob Colhoun plunged over after a powerful drive by his pack.

Forbes clawed back three points with another penalty but Steve Manning sprinted in and Wilson converted to give Ayr a 31-13 interval lead, with the home side’s additional points coming from a second penalty by Forbes.

A massive defensive effort by Ayr nullified Currie’s superiority in the third quarter but their endeavours came at the cost of two yellow cards and the hosts eventually capitalised when Barry Mansfield burst through.

However, Ayr capped a fine effort when Anderson grabbed a second try.