AYR's youngsters led the way as the Millbrae men overcame another difficult start against a tough Borders side before pulling away for a 32-20 win against Hawick, writes Elena Hogarth.
Five tries were scored by Ayr to stretch their lead in the BT Premiership to seven points at the half-way mark of the competition, but only one was recorded in a first-half that was frustrating for both teams.
Man-of-the-match number eight Pete McCallum raced off for the first try of the game.  The twenty-one-year-old scored in the second half too, bringing his personal tally to eight tries in nine games.  
A penalty apiece by Ayr’s fly-half Frazier Climo and his opposite number Lee Armstrong were the only other scores before half-time.  Both teams had good periods of ball in hand in the opening forty minutes, but some pointless kicks from hand didn’t help either side.  Ayr’s second row Scott Sutherland spent ten minutes on the sidelines after a scuffle, but Hawick couldn’t capitalise on their man-advantage.
Hawick were ferocious in the tackle, as Ayr no doubt expected them to be, but the men in pink and black put in the hard hits too.  Winger Haddon McPherson, the slightest-looking man on the pitch, took a battering in defence but gave as good as he got, as did young centre Danny McCluskey.
A couple of nineteen-year-olds, hooker Lewis Anderson and scrum-half Jack Preston, were making their starting debuts for Ayr and both had a superb afternoon.  Anderson is getting ever more assured in his line-out throwing, but it’s his work in the loose that really stood out on Saturday at Millbrae.  He’s very fleet of foot, as is Preston, whose game management and tackling were impressive.
The pair had try-scoring opportunities taken away from them in the second half.  Preston looked like he was about to fly over only to be obstructed by Hawick prop Shawn Muir, who hadn’t retreated 10 metres and found himself yellow-carded, while Anderson was away before being called back for a squint throw at the line-out.
Also flying, as usual, were full-back Grant Anderson, who got a brace of tries, and captain Ross Curle, who went over for the last score after a great break by twenty-year-old Archie Russell.  Along with McCallum’s try, it was a busy second half.  For Hawick, replacement prop Terry Skeet scrambled over under the posts and flanker Nick McTaggart crashed into one of the uprights, after silky running by centre Wiaan Griebenow, for his score.
While Ayr were never in immediate danger – Hawick were within a converted try of a draw before Curle’s score – there will be things they will want to brush up on before Glasgow Hawks visit Millbrae on Saturday.  But with a strong lead in the table thanks to their ability to power their way over the try-line when needed, as well as their talented youngsters and established stars working well, the fans will be happy for now.
Ayr head coach Calum Forrester was full of praise for teenagers Anderson and Preston: ‘These are two young players who have come through Ayr’s youth system.  They played with the momentum we wanted and were outstanding.’
Ayr 2nd XV had a huge win over Hamilton 2nd XV, scoring nine tries to triumph 53-26.  Blair Macpherson touched down four times, Sam Kenny twice and Gregor Henry, Blair Cooper and Russell McKeown once, with Graham Hunter getting four conversions.
Ayr Ladies carry on their upward trajectory, beating Broughton 34-24 to stay at the top of the BT Women’s National League Division 1.