BT Premiership

CURRIE 31

AYR 19

by Elena Hogarth

AYR slipped to a deceat Currie which saw their lead at the top of the BT Premiership reduced after their hosts cut them to pieces in the second half at Malleny Park.

That leafy – and all too often muddy – part of the west of Edinburgh has never been a happy hunting ground for the Millbrae men, who have only won there twice in the last twelve years. It looked like they might buck the trend in the first half, with three tries and two conversions/

Stand-off Frazier Climo and number eight Pete McCallum were once again the danger men for Ayr, with the latter’s try a swift reply to Currie’s opener by Blair Kinghorn. While Climo pulled the strings and kicked the extras, McCallum was busy bashing defenders out of the way and poaching the ball when Currie wrested back possession.

Glasgow Warriors’ Junior Bulumakau had a good first half for Ayr too, his try a result of his determination not to be dragged into touch. He shot off up the wing and mowed down whoever attempted to get in his way before powering over in the corner.

Then Climo showed some individual brilliance. He took the ball in his own 22, used his bulk to barrel his way through the Currie defence and puffed himself out sprinting to the line. He nearly didn’t convert his own score thanks to the strong breeze, but the ball bizarrely bobbled in mid-air and went over the crossbar.

As half-time approached, Currie’s James Semple kicked two penalties.

The second half was all Currie, as the visitors’ line-out went awry in the wind and, under increasing pressure from hosts who could scent blood, they gave away penalties. Home captain Ross Weston barged over for a score before it went from bad to worse, with winger Craig Gossman sin-binned and a kick charged down that let Kinghorn get his second try.

Then there was a blink-and-you’ll-miss-it score from winger Ruaridh Smith, who shot through a huge hole in the Ayr defence to further compound their misery. Luckily, Kinghorn isn’t as good with the boot as he is with ball in hand, and his missed conversions meant the scoreline wasn’t as bad as it could have been.

Ayr were unlucky to lose captain Ross Curle early on and although he shook off a knock to the leg to come back on for the final fifteen minutes, not even his bossing could get Ayr over the try-line.

Ayr were left to wonder just what happens when they play Currie away. All credit must go to the hosts for taking their chances, but Ayr retreated mentally for the final 40 minutes.

Ayr RFC president Billy McHarg was resigned to the result after many years of struggling at Malleny Park and said: "We’re just disappointed. That’s all you can say, really. We controlled the first half but let it go in the second."

The league will resume on Saturday January 9 when Ayr welcome Selkirk to Millbrae.

Meanwhile it was a better day for Ayr 2nd XV, as they beat their Watsonians counterparts 26-24. Evergreen prop Stuart Fenwick grabbed a brace of tries, with Iain Renwick also scoring. A penalty try was awarded too and Sam Graham claimed three conversions.