Rugby: McKillop airs frustration as Heriot's miss chance of away win over Ayr

Frustrated Heriot's coach Bob McKillop was left ruing a sub-par effort by his players after seeing them pass up a winning opportunity and surrender their unbeaten record with a 25-16 loss away to Ayr that leaves the Goldenacre men fifth in the Premiership table.

Heriot's survived a tough opening quarter and conceded two tries before hitting their hosts with a try by Max Learmonth, converted by Graham Wilson, who also contributed three penalties to steer the visitors into a 16-10 interval lead and poised to inflict a rare home defeat on Ayr. However, McKillop's men failed to add to their points tally in the second period while the home side stepped up a gear to run in two more tries and secure a bonus point win.

"I'm very disappointed in our performance," said the coach. "The game was there to be won but we never got going."

There were no such problems for Edinburgh Accies who moved clear at the head of Division Two after taking all five points from their top of the table clash with Gala at Raeburn Place and extending their unbeaten run under new coach Simon Cross to four matches.

Matt Coupar touched down twice and he was joined on the scoresheet by Greg Campbell and Josh Pecqueur, while Stuart Evans slotted three conversions and three penalties as Accies chalked up an impressive 35-21 win.

Meanwhile, after successive defeats in each of their first three league matches, Stewart's Melville opened their account in some style when they clicked up a gear to demolish basement side GHA 59-6 at Inverleith.

Hayden Lingard, Richard Borthwick and Mike Crawley touched down for two tries apiece, and there were singles for Ross Grant, Adrian Duncan and Andy Statham, while Stuart Ker added four conversions and was also on target with two penalties as StewMel chalked up a half century for the first time since November 2007.

Musselburgh broke their duck in Division Three when they saw off Dunfermline 23-8 at Stoneyhill. James Doig and Declan Slaven each touched down for a try, while Brian Walls added to his prodigious kicking tally with another 13-point haul.

However, there was no joy for Haddington, who were on the road to Dundee to meet Morgan Academy, looking to build on a win the previous week. But there was no repeat for the Scarlets who succumbed 28-12 and sit third from bottom.