Dundee HSFP 23 - 31 Ayr: Ayr's attacking instincts complement defence

AYR assistant coach Peter Laverie hailed his side's tackling talents as they buried their Tayside hoodoo. Defeat at Mayfield last season proved crucial to the Millbrae men as they were stripped of the Premier Division crown.

However, on this evidence, they must be a strong bet to snatch the champions tag back from Currie. Laverie said: "What won the game for us was our defence which I was really pleased with. I thought our back-row, particularly, were very good."

Ayr didn't look too shabby in attack either, with 17-year old Cumnock lad Mark Bennett emerging as a potent force. He bagged a try, made another and also slotted two vital kicks. However, the most crucial passage of action came during the final three minutes of the first half when Ayr rattled up ten unanswered points.

Ross Curle banged over a penalty, then added the extras to a fine try by Grant Anderson to grab control of the contest.

Earlier, Ally O'Connor had given High the edge with a snap dropped-goal, only to see flanker Jono Crossan surge over for an Ayr touchdown.

Scorers: Dundee HSFP: Tries: Milne, Fleming. Cons: Horne 2. Pens: Horne 2. Drop goal: O'Connor. Ayr: Tries: Anderson 2, Bennett, Crossan. Cons: Curle. Pens: Curle, Bennett 2.

Dundee: Horne; Fleming, Duthie, Clark, Hay; O'Connor, A Dymock; N Dymock, Forrest, Brown, Hawkins, Linton, Cumming, Gray, Levison.

Ayr: Anderson; Manning, Bennett, Stewart, Taylor; Curle, Hunter; Reid, Fenwick, Cox, Tippett, Kelly, Crossan, Burke, Dunlop.

Referee: D Walker.