Ayr 11 - 33 Melrose: Melrose sweep to victory

A MAGNIFICENT second-half display, from the whole team, swept Melrose to a comprehensive victory over the defending RBS Premiership Champions, writes Matt Vallance at Millbrae.

It has been many a long day since Ayr were so out-played, particularly at home. But, after a first half of errors and dropped balls – mainly from the home team – it was anybody’s game as the teams changed ends, with Ayr leading through two Peter Jericevich penalty goals and an unconverted Ross Curle try, to an unconverrted Austin Lockington try and an Andrew Skeen penalty for the visitors.

’Rose’s powerful restart yielded them an unconverted try for Peter Eccles, to edge them ahead in 47 minutes, then Nick Beavons rumbled over for a close-range try, converted by Harry Leonard, before, on the hour mark, Ayr were reduced to 13 men by yellow cards, in very quick succession, for Scott Sutherland and Curle.

Melrose made their advantage count, Leonard goaling a penalty, before Fraser Thomson intruded at pace for the day’s best try – and the Melrose bonus point. In the dying minutes, Bruce Colvine dived over for the final nail in Ayr’s coffin.