THERE was huge disappointment for Ayr Cricket Club on Saturday when at 3pm at Greenock’s ground Glenpark the umpires abandoned the home club's match against Poloc without a ball being bowled.

This sealed Ayr’s fate for the season and relegated them to the Western Union First Division for next season.

At the start of the day Ayr were needing to win their match away to Dumfries and for Poloc to beat Greenock to overturn the percentage difference between the two clubs, but with the abandonment of the game all other results became irrelevant.

The match at Dumfries also ended in disappointment as they ended the season with a heavy defeat losing by 168 runs.

The day had started well with Kenroy Peters taking a wicket in the first over and then an excellent run by Richie Simpson left the Doomhamers struggling at 21-2 before Chris Belwood (93) set about the recovery and was closing in on his century when he was clean bowled by Scott McElnea. There then followed some late order hitting by Stuart Corbett-Byers (74) saw Dumfries finish on 242-9 in their 50 overs. In reply Ayr were always in trouble losing early wickets and only three batsmen reaching double figures, former Ayr player Alan Davidson doing the damage with the ball taking 8-19 as they were bowled out for 74.

Captain Andi McElnea is philosophical about the setback and said: "It's disappointing to be relegated. But we will re-group for next season. Kenroy Peters, the professional is coming back and playing in the First Division will give us more of an opportunity to play younger guys, which Prestwick did when they were in that league.

"We have quite a few talented young guys coming through from the 2nd XI and they will get an opportunity. We want to eventually get back up and we will work on things. There's no great rush."

Meanwhile, there was however better news at Cambusdoon where the 2nd XI were also requiring a victory against Deanpark to maintain their position in the Reserve League and did so by recording a nine-wicket victory.

Bowling the visitors out for 90, with David Baines claiming 5-20 and two wickets each for Richie Borland and Nari Bhandari, they then raced to their target in under 20 overs. Callum Henderson top-scored with 33.