RBS Premiership: Ayr’s new pack mobility sparks hope of title bid

The Millbrae outfit slipped off the pace last season, as did fellow recent champions Currie, but both sides won on the opening weekend of the new ten-team RBS Premiership and today Ayr return home to prepare for the visit of one of their usurpers. Dundee HSFP stormed through into second place in last season’s championship, and a key result en route was victory over the Ayrshire team in the first half of the season.

Ayr coach Kenny Murray was happy with the way his side kicked off last Saturday, recording their first win in three trips to Boroughmuir – comfortably by 38-22 – and believes a key to Ayr’s revival lies with the mobility of their pack. But Dundee’s 39-24 defeat of Aberdeen Grammar suggests that they are serious challengers once again.

“I still remember our defeat to Dundee at Millbrae two years ago,” Murray said.

“Dundee have really developed into an outstanding side – very physical with good players behind the scrum. They will be a real force to be reckoned again with this year, but I’m confident after the first week.

“We played quite well in parts of the game against Boroughmuir and with five minutes to go we were 38-10 ahead at a place where we have struggled in the past. It was dampened a bit by the red card for Ross Curle [spear tackle]. It was nothing malicious, but reckless and he’s been banned for three weeks, which is fair enough.

“But Dean Kelbrick was injured – he should be back next week hopefully – and Finn Russell is out for about six weeks, with a foot fracture, but that also opens up opportunities for others to impress.

“In terms of where we’re improving, there has been a lot of talk about our backs, but our forwards played very well at Boroughmuir. We have a good running pack now, which we’ve maybe not had for a while, where all the players can run and handle, so they should be able to threaten but also provide good ball for the backs.

“We have Colin White back from a virus, Denford Mutamangira back from playing for Zimbabwe, and Nick Campbell has been released by Glasgow to us, so we have strengthened our pack further this week.”

Ayr have nearly 300 signed up for their popular ‘Ladies Day’ this afternoon which means a full house inside the club and out, and, on the back of a winning start, it could lead to a 1,000-plus crowd. Dundee’s director of rugby Ian Rankin expects a feisty challenge to their bid to remain among the title chasers at this early stage of the season.

He said: “The Ayr support will be keen to see this new Ayr team perform at home for the first time and will be encouraged by their comprehensive victory against Boroughmuir last Saturday. Expectations will be running high.

“Our defence will need to step up to the mark to cope with a high-octane Ayr backline and the challenge between the two packs will be worth the entry money alone.”

Murray described the game as “huge for us”, but admitted that he will probably be saying something similar every week from now as the realities of a ten-team division bite.

“You look through the Prem-iership and I think Melrose, Gala, Dundee and Currie all look strong,” he added, “and Aberdeen have a good back line now, while I expect Stirling County to bounce back from their defeat to Melrose, especially with Glasgow boys Byron McGuigan and Troy Nathan released to them this week.

“The Boroughmuir pack was really good as well, so it’s true that there aren’t poor teams or easy games in this league. But that means that dropping points can set you back quickly too. Boroughmuir are going to Aberdeen this weekend so whoever loses there will suddenly find themselves with two defeats and chasing. We have to keep the momentum building.”