Glasgow Hawks 31 '“ Ayr 44: Boost for Millbrae men

Ayr won this game of two halves on the plastic pitch at Lochinch, to give themselves just the boost they needed before next week's visit to Melrose.

Ayr coach Calum Forrester

On the back of a great performance from their pack, the visitors recovered from Brendan McGroarty’s early try for Hawks – the first leg of a hat-trick for the skipper, to turn round at the break leading 32-5. Danny McCluskey, Grant Anderson, Blair MacPherson and skipper Pete McCallum, with the bonus-pointer, crossing for tries, with Scott Lyle adding three conversions and two penalty goals.

Steven Longwell scored a fifth Ayr try, Lyle converted almost from the restart, but McGroarty’s second try, converted by Liam Brims, narrowed the gap, Then, on the hour, McCallum scored his second try for Ayr, which was unconverted and, 44-12 up, Ayr visibly relaxed.

This allowed Hawks to cut into their lead. McGroarty completed his hat-trick, and young James Couper scored two late tries, the first converted by Scott Peffers, the second by Brims, to put a better complexion on the result.

Ayr’s play over the first hour was perhaps their best of the season. “We will need to do that for 80 minutes next week,” said coach Calum Forrester.