BT Premiership round-up: Watsonians secure last gasp victory over Ayr
Watsonians 29-27 AyrIn a close encounter at Myreside, Watsonians overcame league leaders Ayr with a final try and a conversion kick from Ali Harris to seal a dramatic victory. It was the hosts who enjoyed an early spell of possession and after DJ Innes went over following an initial break from Reiss Cullen, Watsonians gained momentum.A second score from Angus Duckett and a penalty strike from Andrew Chalmers minutes later extended Watsonians’ lead. Ayr responded with a try from Richard Dalgleish following impressive work from the forwards in the 22 before Grant Anderson pushed the conversion attempt wide.Chalmers nailed another penalty for the home side, but it was Ayr who finished the half with force, scoring their second try through Blair Macpherson with Anderson adding the extras.After the interval, the visitors looked sharp in attack and it was the prop, Djustice Sears-Duru, who crashed over to send Ayr into the lead before Anderson converted.Chalmers responded with a successful penalty attempt but Ayr seemed in control, Dalgleish going over for his second following a neat chip and collect down the right wing.The two sides then exchanged penalties before Watsonians moved play from their own 22 into the oppositions. After a series of carries, the ball was shipped to the right wing for Max McFarland to dot down and level the scores.With seconds on the clock, the match-winning conversion fell to Ali Harris. The replacement slotted the ball between the sticks from the touchline to sneak victory for Watsonians.Watsonians: Tries: Innes, Duckett, McFarland. Conversions: Harris. Penalties: Chalmers (4). Ayr: Tries: Dalgliesh (2), Macpherson, Sears-Duru. Conversions: Anderson (2). Penalties: Anderson.Referee: Mike Adamson Hawick 3-14 MelroseMelrose defeated Hawick at Mansfield Park to reclaim their position at the top of the BT Premiership table.The visitors recorded the first points of the afternoon with a try from Neil Irvine-Hess in the 11th minute after Melrose piled on the pressure during the opening exchanges. Jason Baggott converted. Hawick responded with a penalty strike from Ali Weir minutes later, as the Borders’ forwards enjoyed phases of possession following Melrose’s fine start.However, it wasn’t long before the visitors utilised their key performers to go over for their second try of the match. The lively Ross McCann touched down following quick ball from the scrum before Baggott converted.The second-half resulted in no further scores for either side, despite both securing opportunities to attack from close range.Hawick: Penalties: Weir. Melrose: Tries: Irvine-Hess, McCann. Conversions: Baggott (2).Glasgow Hawks 31-32 CurrieCurrie edged victory over Hawks at Old Anniesland after a positive start kept the Edinburgh side on track throughout. Performer Harvey Elms went over for Currie early on with a dart through the defence. Hawks captain Brendan McGroarty then touched down in response with George Horne adding the extras to send the home side into the lead. Currie continued to impress and it wasn’t long before they scored their second, courtesy of Cameron Hutchison, with Elms converting to send the visitors back into the lead.Hawks reacted shortly after with a try from Horne, after the scrum-half got on the end of a break from Earland Oag before converting, to give his side the lead at the break.In the second-half, Kerr Gossman ran the distance to score for Hawks but Currie responded once again, Ben Robbins crossing from the restart.Paul Cairncross intercepted for Hawks to go over, as Horne added the points. Currie then reacted with Cameron Gray kicking ahead to collect and touch down, as Paddy Boyer received yellow for the hosts.Charlie Shiel provided the pass for Gray to go over for his second before Tom Gordon secured the winning try for Currie, as the visitors made the most of the number advantage in the closing stages. Hawks: Tries: McGroarty, Horne, Gossman, Cairncross. Conversions: Horne (4). Penalties: Steele. Currie: Tries: Elms, Hutchison, Robbins, Gray (2), Gordon. Conversions: Elms. Referee: Kevin White Boroughmuir 27-31 GalaBorders side Gala recorded an impressive away win to Boroughmuir in a high scoring game at Meggetland.Early tries featured for both sides within the opening ten minutes. Edinburgh’s Rory Scholes crossing for his first of four in the third minute before Mark Hare responded for the home side minutes later. Boroughmuir’s Chris Laidlaw made the conversion to send his side into the lead. A penalty opportunity for Laidlaw in the 39th minute extended the lead for Boroughmuir to settle the half-time score at 10-5 in favour of the hosts.Scholes touched down after the break for his second following quick ball across the back-line, as Gregor Hunter added the extras. Laidlaw recorded a try of his own in response for Boroughmuir but pushed the conversion attempt wide.Minutes later, Scholes pounced for the line to claim his hat-trick with Hunter converting for the Borders outfit. Two further tries for Gala, Scholes’ fourth and a touch down from Chris Keen with a conversion from Hunter looked to have sealed victory.Boroughmuir impressed in the closing stages, with two tries scored in the dying moments, Greg Cannie and Jordan Edmunds crossing with Cannie converting. However, it wasn’t enough for the Edinburgh side and Gala came away with a spoils. Boroughmuir: Tries: Hare, Laidlaw, Cannie, Edmunds. Conversions: Laidlaw, Cannie. Penalties: Laidlaw. Gala: Scholes (4), Keen. Conversions: Hunter (3). Referee: Taku OtsukiHeriot’s 29-15 Stirling CountyHeriot’s overcame Stirling County at Goldenacre to continue their recent run of form.The host’s made a bright start with a score from Edinburgh’s Murray McCallum in the third minute, which Alex Hagart converted successfully. County responded with a try of their own, Reyner Kennedy crossing in the 16th minute but it was Heriot’s who scored next with Cornell Du Preez going over and Hagart adding the extras.Hagart then scored before converting for Heriot’s and minutes later John Semple went over to extend the host’s lead on the half-time mark.County scored two further tries in the second-half, the first coming from Matt Lamb and the second, courtesy of Craig Pringle.However, Heriot’s continued to pressurise in the final quarter and eventually ran out comfortable winners.Heriot’s: Tries: McCallum, Du Preez, Hagart, Semple. Conversions: Hagart (3). Penalties: Hagart. Stirling: Tries: Kennedy, Lamb, Trotter.Referee: Fraser Brown
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