Craig Redpath delight as Marr display grand ambition

Livingston 15-30 Marr

Scorers: Livingston – Tries: Bolan, King. Pen: Bolan. Con: Bolan. Marr – Tries: Bickerstaff (2), Burke, Adair. Pens: McGee (2). Cons: McGee (2).

Kenny Murray and Ayr have built superbly on foundations left by Redpath, the former Melrose and Scotland A cap, and there was a hint of regret in Redpath as he watched Ayr go on to lift the cup.

But now, ensconced along the road at Marr, he is building a new success story in Ayrshire and, revealing the same ambition that took him to Scottish titles with Melrose, does not view Marr as a feeder for Ayr, more a future challenger.

Reflecting on their West League One and shield double, Redpath said: “This is unbelievable for the club and what makes it better for me is that 19 of that 22 went to Marr school. The whole place is thriving and it’s been buzzing for weeks – I’ve been working hard to keep them calm.

“We had three 17-year-olds in the team. And in Don Morrison, who’s been there 19 seasons, we have an amazing guy who I think is going through his teenage years for a second time!

“It’s a brilliant achievement but it’s easy when you have everyone working to the same cause and that’s what these young kids are doing, training three or four times a week, altogether, all pals, and we’re working with the school team now too. That is how I grew up at Melrose, and it’s fantastic to see it coming together at the stage I’m now at. I made a decision to leave [Ayr] which was the wrong decision when I look back, but I’m as good a coach as any up there, and Paul [Burke] and Stephen [Adair] are ambitious coaches, and Ayr are competition now because they want to nick my boys.”

Marr ran up a 19-3 lead inside 15 minutes, Scott Bickerstaff scoring twice and former Ayr favourite Paul Burke touching down, while Rory McGee converted twice to a penalty from Craig Bolan.

East League champions Livingston rallied superbly in the second half, the spirit of late stalwart Donald Naysmith in the air, and tries by Bolan and Jamie King brought Murrayfield to life. Marr responded, however, and sealed victory with a try by Adair, another ex-Ayr player, and two McGee penalties.

Livingston: D Edwards; K Buchan, R Neil, A McMahon, J King; C Bolan, J Bruton; M Tamosaitis, L Barrett, N Scobie, S Hay, J Millar, J Watt, S Logan, A Johnston.

Subs: D Stone, A Scobie, A Laird, G Caldwell, B Middlemass, S Mushet, G Wilson.

Marr: C Bickerstaff; S Bickerstaff, A Gault, A Rankin, G Ness; R McGee, G Baird; C Nisbet, S Adair, F Ferguson, C Craig, K Kirk, S Kirk, F Grant, P Burke.

Subs: R Kennedy, D Morrison, A Johnston, J Evans, A Bate, A Mill, M Paxton.

Referee: S Grove-White