AYR and Ayr Ladies have finished their preparations for 2017-18 with a win apiece in their final pre-season warm-up matches.

The ladies travelled to Cartha Queens Park in the south side of Glasgow last Friday night, and grabbed a 22-21 win at the death against their fellow BT Premier League side.

It was an enthralling contest, as the hosts came back in the second half to regain the lead with minutes to go. But Ayr looked like they had never had an off-season, and pushed on into Cartha’s half through Catherine Shennan, Rachel Morrison and Emily Irving.

The forwards patiently drove for the line before 17-year-old Neve Finlay – on her senior debut after several successful seasons with the U18s – stretched her arm across the line for a try to seal the win.

Another debutante, Danni Hands, in her first-ever rugby match, had a cracker of a game, putting in a strong defensive display.

Earlier tries from Irving, Hannah Mutton and Caitlyn Haldane had lit up the gloomy ground on the edge of Pollok Park, and showed just how good the ladies’ pre-season training has been.

They haven’t played a competitive XV-a-side match since the end of March, but a combination of 7s tournaments and fitness and skills sessions over the summer has kept them sharp.

Ayr Ladies get their season underway in earnest on Sunday with an away league game against Watsonians.

Ayr men’s 1st XV were firing on all cylinders on Saturday morning in their final pre-season match, beating Stirling County 38-12 at a blustery Bridgehaugh.

Shunted on to the 2nd XV pitch for a kick-off of 11am to accommodate Glasgow Warriors’ own pre-season friendly with Northampton Saints on the main pitch later in the day, the early start didn’t bother the visitors.

They raced into a 21-0 lead thanks to an opening try by captain Pete McCallum and two quick dots-down by winger Jamie Bova. Both were converted by new recruit Scott Lyle, who was playing full-back.

It was a lively performance by Ayr and County seemed lacklustre in comparison, even with mercurial former Millbrae man Ross Curle starting for them. He was stopped in his tracks on more than one occasion by Lyle and Paddy Dewhirst, the latter having a great game in attack as well as defence.

Several of Ayr’s youngsters looked more than ready for the new season, with hooker Robbie Smith running riot, back rows Euan Hamilton and Seth Rae appearing on the wing (as did prop Ben Paterson and hooker Lewis Anderson - both of whom made exciting breaks - and actual winger Matt Davidson a danger man with ball in hand.

South African second row Michael Badenhorst had gas to burn as he sprinted away for a try, with the other scores coming from Frazier Climo and Hamilton, and Lyle adding a further conversion in windy conditions.

The win sets them up nicely for this Saturday’s BT Charity Shield match at Millbrae against Melrose (3pm). The BT Premiership champions host the BT Cup holders in a game that sees the gate revenue donated to charity ahead of the new season.

Ayr head coach Calum Forrester is looking forward to his troops being back on the pitch in Alloway.

He said: "We’ve had an encouraging pre-season, with the new players, our established senior squad and the youngsters emerging from youth level combining well at training. We’re now keen to get the season going and there’s no better way than playing Melrose at Millbrae.”