Dundee HSFP 5-15 Ayr: Double ambitions on track

Scorers: Dundee – Try: Wilson. Ayr – Tries: Hunter, Fergusson. Con: Jericevich. Pen: Jericevich.

Coach Kenny Murray looked forward to his clash with Craig Chalmers on 20 April, promising him a warm send off as he prepares to leave the Border club he has served with great distinction at the end of the season.

“I am happy for Chic. It will be good for him to leave on the high of going to Murrayfield, not that we will be doing him any favours on the day. This was a tough match for us, but then we have never come to Mayfield and won by much,” said Murray.

Ayr made hard work of the win considering the amount of possession they enjoyed, but came through as the champions they are to ease past a business-like Dundee side who played their part, especially in defence where the back row of Danny Levison, Iain Wilson and Richie McIvor were immense.

Despite their lack of ball it was Dundee who took the lead in 16 minutes when scrum-half Andy Dymock broke to set up Wilson for a try. Centre Jack Steele missed the conversion.

Stung into action by the reverse Ayr hit back and after a spell of sustained pressure eventually got the score they merited when Glasgow prop George Hunter surged over near the posts. Scrum-half Peter Jericevich gave the Millbrae side the lead right on the half-hour mark with the conversion, although Steele missed a penalty just before half time for High.

The visitors continued to press, but it was not until the 70 minute that they got their reward when Jereicvich kicked a straight forward penalty when Andy Dymock failed to roll away after making a tackle on centre Robbie Fergusson.

The Ayr centre had the last word, as befitting the best player on the pitch, cruising past the weary home defence to make the game safe at 15-5 two minutes from time.

Iain Rankin, the Dundee director of rugby, will now have to pick up his charges for their vital relegation game on Saturday against Stirling County knowing that only a win will do if they are to have any chance of avoiding a play-off with Hawick. Murray for his part will have the luxury of three weeks to prepare his squad for a third meeting at Murrayfield with Melrose, secure in the knowledge that they have already beaten the Borderers twice before at the national stadium.

“It will be a big day for the players and the club, but we now need to get one or two of our injured players fully fit,’’ said Murray.

Dundee: J Urquhart; A McLean, H Duthie, R Lavery, C Bowie; J Steele, A Dymock, N Dymock(c), D Russell, G Robertson, C Cumming, R Hawkins, D Levison, I Wilson, R McIvor. Subs used: S Longwell, A Linton, A Redmayne, RLemon.

Ayr: C Anderson; C Gossman, R Fergusson, D Kelbrick, R Dalgleish; R Curle, P Jericevich, D Mutamanigra, H Wisnewski, G Hunter, S Sutherland, C White, I Doneghan, A Dunlop, C Forrester(c). Subs used: D Rae, D Young, S Fenwick, M McConnell, S Mpofu, C Taylor.

Referee: D Changleng.