Plymouth Albion 17 - 18 Ayr: Stunning comeback edges it for Ayr

Scottish Cup holders Ayr got their British & Irish Cup campaign of to a winning start when they overturned a 17-point deficit to beat Plymouth Albion at Brickfields.

Plymouth, with the wind behind them, raced into a 17-0 lead after half an hour. But a try just before the interval gave Ayr a much-needed lift and, in the second period, they gradually chipped away at Albion’s lead. Ayr won the match in the 76th minute when Scottish international No 8 John Beattie powered over from a scrum and young fly-half Robbie Fergusson kicked a superb conversion from the touchline.

A delighted Ayr skipper Mark Stewart said: “We showed a great deal of character to turn it around after going 17 points down. We showed great composure.” When asked about the match- winning conversion from Ferguson, Stewart added: “He is only 18 and did well to win the match. It was a great kick.”

Plymouth scored early tries from full back Jack Nowell and hooker Rupert Freestone, with fly-half Mark Lee converting both and adding a penalty. Ayr’s first try was made by Beattie and scored by hooker Hayden Wisnewski. Fergusson reduced the home lead to six points with two penalties before man of the match Beattie got the all-important second try.

Scorers: Plymouth - Tries: Nowell, Freestone. Cons: Lee 2. Pen Lee. Ayr - Tries: Wisnewski, Beattie. Con: Ferguson. Pens: Ferguson 2.

Plymouth Albion: J Nowell; S Johns (J Love 80), B Armitage, P Bailey, T Lewis; M Lee, D Farnham (P Rowley 55); R Dugard (D Morton 55), R Freestone (D McGregor 55), R Hopkins (J Andrew 80), A Lockley (S Hocking 80), T Hotson, H Stupple, J Tyas, A Carpenter (C Grace 64).

Ayr: G Anderson; S Manning, R Dalgleish, M Stewart (capt), C Taylor (M Doneghan 52); R Fergusson, AJ McFarlane (M McConnell 52); J Welsh, H Wisnewski (S Fenwick 52), A Brown, R McAlpine (J Dunning 46), R Hawkins, C White, A Dunlop, J Beattie.