Dundee HSFP 23 - 15 Ayr: Dundee leave it late but sights are set on title

DUNDEE leapfrogged their Ayrshire visitors into fourth spot in RBS Premier One on Saturday, just seven points behind leaders Gala, and halted the reigning Scottish Cup Champions’ four-match winning run, but only after a late scare.

The hosts had the game wrapped up with James Fleming’s 13 points from the boot adding to his fine general play to put Dundee five points clear with the final whistle beckoning.

With their scrum dominant, and impressive Ayr hooker Hayden Wisnewski sin-binned in the second half for a high tackle on Fleming, they led through scores from Cameron Wyper and Robbie Lavery, his first for Dundee, in response to Ayr tries by Colin White and Mark Stewart.

However, with uncontested scrums in the last ten minutes Ayr almost snatched it when skipper Stewart crashed over, only for referee Peter Allan to decide that home hooker Simon Forrest was underneath the ball, preventing the touchdown.

Fleming’s last penalty of the match eased the tensions for the home side.

Ayr and Dundee are both safe from the relegation battle, but need to uncover greater consistency in the next fortnight to step up a title charge.

Dundee HSFP: C Wyper; A McLean, R Lavery, H Duthie, J Fleming; C Brown, A Dymock; N Dymock (capt), S Forrest, A Brown, R Hawkins, A Linton, C Cumming, R McIver, D Levison. Subs: D Russell, G Robertson, J Morrison, T Seabala, R Lemon.

Ayr: G Anderson; S Manning, R Dalgleish, M Stewart, S Diez; R Ferguson, AJ Macfarlane; A Kelly, H Wisnewski, G Sykes, J Dunning, C White, J Willis, A Dunlop, G Fisken. Subs: S Fenwick, S Sutherland, B McPherson, C Davidson, C Taylor.

Referee: P Allan