BT Premiership: Ayr overcome Heriot’s at the death
Ayr delivered two sucker punch tries to defending BT Premiership champions Heriot’s at the end of each half to win a scrappy encounter 18-23 at Goldenacre. Heriot’s were coming off the back of an opening day defeat in the BT Premiership to Watsonians as they faced fellow title tips Ayr at Goldenacre.On a mild, dry afternoon and a firm surface, both sides had ideal conditions to express themselves, but early season rustiness was evident with multiple penalties and knock ons suggesting that both sides struggled for continuity. Ayr’s winning scores came courtesy of a Craig Gossman intercept, a run in from 40 metres, and scrum-half David Armstrong scoring under the posts from prop George Hunter’s offload at the death.Heriot’s, suffering their third straight defeat, certainly played more of the rugby and didn’t allow Ayr a chance to have any fluency in attack for much of the game.Ayr Head Coach, Calum Forrester, said: We played poorly at times today but we still managed to come away with a win, which is a real positive going forward into next week. Our discipline in the first-half let us down but credit to the boys for digging deep and pushing coming through at the end.Heriot’s Head Coach, Phil Smith, said: There was a lot of mistakes made today but there was some great play from us overall.We are still adding players to our squad who are coming back from injury and will make a difference in the coming weeks. The first half was a dis-jointed penalty ridden affair with Heriot’s having the best of possession and territory but only a one point lead to show for their efforts at the break.Fly-half Alex Hagart slotted two early penalties to put the home side 6-0 ahead as Ayr conceded six penalties in the first 32 minutes and had full-back Grant Anderson sin-binned.But the Gossman try gave them a 6-10 lead on 35 minutes to add to an earlier Frazier Climo penalty.Heriot’s responded immediately after Climo chased back on a hacked through spilled ball and was forced to kick it into touch in Ayr’s own 22.From the resulting line-out, Heriot’s went through multiple phases before John Semple off-loaded in the tackle to give full-back Gavin Parker a dive for the corner on the stroke of half-time. Hagart missed the conversion out wide, giving the home side just a one point 11-10 lead at half-time. The second half saw fewer infringements and neither side went more than a score ahead.Ayr started the second half more directly with better ball retention and Heriot’s seemingly standing off.Cornell du Preez on for Michael Liness conceded early penalties and Frazier Climo edged Ayr ahead with two successive penalties, 11-16 come 56 minutes.Heriot’s replied on the hour, winning quick turnover ball to reward their strong breakdown work all day – lock Calum Marshall broke the line and shipped on to Alex Hagart who converted his own try for a 18-16 lead.Ayr countered through Archie Russell but the visitors conceded another penalty at the breakdown. Hagart’s penalty kick to touch was sliced to midway inside his own half.Ayr stole the resulting lineout and after both sides exchanged possession, Ayr flanker Will Bordill made a 15 metre break down the wing to get behind the home defence, quick recycling saw Ayr punch the ball up the middle with prop George Hunter carrying towards the posts before setting up Armstrong for the winning score.Full time: Heriot’s 18-23 AyrHeriot’s: Gavin Parker; Jordan Webster, Josh Laird, John Semple, Andy McLean; Alex Hagart, Andrew Simmers; Murray McCallum, Michael Liness, Struan Cessford, Callum Marshall, Clarke Smith, George Turner, Jack McLean, Struan Dewar.Replacements: Ruaridh Mitchell, Martin Bouab, Cornell Du Preez, Rory Carmichael CAPTAIN, Harry Boisseau.Ayr: Grant Anderson; Jamie Bova, Archie Russell, Ross Curle, Craig Gossman; Frazier Climo, David Armstrong, George Hunter, David Young, Steven Longwell, Craig Stevenson, Robert McAlpine, Blair Macpherson, Will Bordill, Pete McCallum CAPTAIN. Replacements: Lewis Anderson, Adam Prentice, Lee Scott, Cameron Taylor, Danny McCluskey.Referee: Keith Allen
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