BATTLING Marr Rugby may be down, but they are not out.

That was the message from the Troon club's president Kevin Quinn after they were relegated on Saturday, following just one season in the top flight.

But they went down fighting, defeating Stirling 27-17 on their final match. However Hawick's 38-3 hammering of table toppers Melrose consigned last season's National League Division One champions to the agony of the drop.

The disappointment came almost exactly a year after champagne corks were popping as Marr won the National League One title to clinch top flight status for the first time.

Quinn said: "We always knew it was going to be tough in the Premiership a and I think we have learned lessons in terms of how we have to be more consistent in terms of results and performances. I workday say we are down but definitely not out.

"The players have had opportunities to play alongside an All Black, an Italian international and an American International- that is all good experience. We will take positives from playing in the top league."

The club will take stock as they look ahead to next season.

Quinn added: "We have some good players at the top level but we have brought players from our other teams into the 1st XV and will continue to do that. The coach Craig Redpath buys into what we are doing with the team. We have a few sevens games left with the top side and the second XV should get promotion into National One at reserve level."

Asked their objectives for next season "We will take stock once the season is completely finished.There's going to be a restructuring for the 2029-20 season - it has not all been finalised yet, but we would hope to be competing in the Championship which will be the top league in Scottish Rugby that season. So we will be looking for good and consistent performances - that will be the target next season.

Head coach Craig Redpath was also disappointed and said: "Let's say it was a strong end to the season when we chalked up some good results and performances and we went down fighting by winning our final match on Saturday. Who knows how things might have turned out had things turned out differently earlier in the season but we will just dust ourselves down and re-group. The guys always knew it would be difficult playing at a higher level and we will learn from this."