Kenny Murray fuming after pitch is given the cold shoulder

AYR chief Kenny Murray couldn't disguise his anger last night after his side's home clash with West of Scotland was called off just 20 minutes before kick-off time, writes David Kelso.

Both sets of players had been happy with the condition of the main pitch at Millbrae. But when referee Andy Healy carried out an inspection he said he was concerned that some areas were still too hard in the wake of frost throughout the week.

Plan B was then put into operation – shifting the game to the second-team pitch. Murray's title-holders gave the thumbs up, as did West coach John Beattie, but a group of senior players – led by former Lions and Scotland hooker Gordon Bulloch – reckoned the surface wasn't fit and so the plug was pulled.

And Murray was quick to promise West that their decision would come back to haunt them.

He declared: "A lot of people put in a huge amount of effort to get this match on. They will have to come back here later in the season and our players will remember what happened and there will be extra motivation for them."

Currie's hopes of taking another step towards the title were also dashed when their tussle with Glasgow Hawks at Old Anniesland was postponed.