THEY say no game in the Borders is easy, but Ayr’s BT Premiership tie with Gala was made all the more difficult by the blanket of mist that nestled over Netherdale in the first half, writes Elena Hogarth.

It didn’t stop Ayr though, as they marched to a 38-28 victory after the three-week league break.

With just 25 minutes on the scoreboard clock (an eerie orange glow through the mist), Ayr had already secured their try-bonus point with scores from David Armstrong – a minute after kick-off – Ross Curle, Steven Longwell as well as a penalty try.

The flying start was a mixture of Ayr’s ambition with ball in hand, their dominance at the set-piece and Gala’s own haplessness. Ayr gave away penalty after penalty in the first half, and another team would have punished them severely, but Gala didn’t, or couldn’t.

The home side’s kicks for the corner went astray, kicks right in front of the goal missed and line-outs were stolen by Ayr’s second rows Ruaridh MacKenzie and Robert McAlpine. Not even when MacKenzie was in the sin bin did Gala turn the screw.

They woke up before half-time, shaken from their slumber by their sniping scrum-half Connor Adams, who marshalled his men in true half-back fashion. Ayr managed to mess up their attack, but the ball bobbled about on the grass and Gala hooker Matt Carryer picked it up and dived over for a try.

Gala were again caught napping at the resumption, with Ayr replacement Danny McCluskey racing away for a try mere seconds after the whistle had sounded for the start of the second half.

Another couple of sin-binnings followed, with Gala second row Rob Louw and Ayr centre Archie Russell shown yellow on two separate occasions. Gala were awarded a penalty try after Russell was adjudged to have tackled a player without the ball, and they added another through replacement Craig Robertson.

Ayr stretched their lead after a beautiful offload by Curle found Craig Gossman and the winger went on a brilliantly angled run before he passed to captain Pete McCallum, who scored a fine try. With Frazier Climo, who had converted three tries, off the field to get his head stitched, Curle converted Ayr’s final score.

It was Gala who had the final say though, winger Alex Northam scoring. The extras were added by stand-off Gregor Hunter, who, despite the missed penalty right at the start, converted all of his team’s four tries.

It was too little too late for Gala, who will rue their sleepy first half. For Ayr head coach Calum Forrester, it was a welcome win after a few weeks of rest.

He said: “The majority of the game was good but there was some rustiness in our decision-making. The set-piece was good and the attitude was good throughout.”

Ayr’s second XV also won at Netherdale, beating Gala A 29-12. Craig Stevenson, Jamie Bova, Harry Warr and Paddy Dewhirst scored the tries, with Dewhirst converting three and kicking a penalty and Lewis Anderson was man of the match. Ayr Ladies were triumphant in the Borders too, beating Melrose at the Greenyards.

Ayr host Hawick on Saturday for their last home game of 2016, with Ayr Ladies also playing at Millbrae on Sunday against Stirling County.

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