Ayr and Heriot’s book places in BT Premiership final

Ayr and Heriot’s booked their places in the final of the BT Premiership with wins over Melrose and Currie in their respective play-off semi-finals on Saturday. Table-toppers Ayr overcame Melrose 48-10 at Millbrae to make amends for their performance in the BT Cup last weekend, when Calum Forrester’s men exited the competition at the hands of the Borders side 20-13. The second semi-final dual between these two teams went in favour of the home side from the outset, with the Millbrae cohort securing the first try of the game in the 14th minute.Rob McAlpine touched down after Ayr’s forward pack made solid ground towards the line, before Frazier Climo added the conversion.A series of penalty opportunities were then presented to Climo, and he effortlessly converted both to extend Ayr’s lead over the visitors.Climo was involved minutes later when the out-half charged down Nyle Godmark’s boot in the 22, before kicking on to secure Ayr’s second try.A subsequent penalty rounded off the half to leave the score at 21-0 with the Borders side starting to build momentum in the closing minutes.Half-time: 21-0After the interval, Melrose found some rhythm in attack, which soon forced the penalty, replacement Richard Mill putting his team’s first points on the board in the 42nd minute.A line-out drive for Ayr in the right corner resulted in a shove for the whitewash, with Will Bordill finding the line and Climo adding the extras. Climo added his fourth penalty in the 50th minute before Ayr broke from the line-out through David Armstrong who sent the inside ball to Junior Bulumakau before locating the impressive Pete McCallum for the score, with Climo converting.Melrose continued to battle throughout the remaining 15 minutes and were awarded with a consolation try from Ruaridh Knott.Ayr provided one final reminder of their dominance through captain Ross Curle, who bagged an intercept within his own 22 to run the length of the pitch for his side’s fifth try before Climo struck with the boot.Full-time: 48-10The Teams…Ayr: Grant Anderson; Junior Bulumakau, Ross Curle CAPTAIN, Danny McCluskey, Craig Gossman; Frazier Climo, David Armstrong; George Hunter, David Young, Javan Sebastian, Rob McAlpine, Scott Sutherland, Blair Macpherson, Will Bordill, Pete McCallum. Replacements: Stuart Fenwick, Gordon Sykes, Craig Stevenson, Andrew Dunlop, Archie Russell, Richard Dalgliesh, Haddon McPherson.Melrose: Nyle Godsmark; Bruce Colvine CAPTAIN, George Taylor, Joe Helps, Sam Pecquer; Tom Galbraith, Murdo McAndrew; Jamie Bhatti, Richard Ferguson, Nicholas Bevan, James Head, Lewis Carmichael, Neil Irvine Hess, Grant Runciman, Graham Dodds. Replacements: George Turner, Ruaridh McLeod, Ewan McQuillan, Ally Miller, Ruaridh Knott, David Colvine. Heriot’s secured their place in the BT Premiership final with a dramatic 24-22 victory over Currie at Malleny Park.The home side took an early lead with Ross Weston crashing over after a driving maul gave him a helping hand, before James Semple converted. Currie extended their score with a penalty from Semple minutes later but Heriot’s fought back with a try from Michael Liness and a conversion from Tom Wilson.Heriot’s full-back John Semple levelled the scores with a successful penalty before Russell Nimmo went over for a half-time score in favour of the visitors.Half-time: 10-15After the break, Currie equalised through a try from Chris Logan with Semple adding the extras.However, Heriot’s secured a penalty minutes later before Gregor McNeish landed a drop goal.With ten minutes left to play, Currie continued to pressurise the Heriot’s defence and when a line-out drive found its way over, it was Weston who had scored his second.Semple sent his conversion attempt wide and McNeish took full advantage with a second drop goal attempt sailing through to deny Currie a place in the BT Premiership final. Heriot’s are now on course for the BT Cup and BT Premiership title double, following their progression over Glasgow Hawks at Old Anniesland last weekend in the semi-final of the BT Cup. Full-time: 22-24 The teams…Currie: Harvey Elms; Cammy Gray, Fidias Efthymiou, Robbie Nelson, Chris Logan; James Semple, Richard Snedden; John Cox, Matt Goodwin, Alistair Hamilton, Mike Vernel, Stephen Ainslie, Luke Crosbie, Travis Brooke, Ross Weston CAPTAIN. Replacements: Graeme Carson, Andrew McWilliam, Shaun Ruwers, Hamish Bain, Thomas Gordon, Charlie Shiel, Matt McPhillips. Heriot’s: John Semple; John Rae, Max Learmonth, Cameron Ferguson, Charlie Simpson; Rory Carmichael, Hugh Fraser; Murray McCallum, Michael Liness, Struan Cessford, Russell Nimmo, Jack Turley CAPTAIN, Ian Wilson, Struan Dewar, Jason Hill. Replacements: Dylan Mason, Martin Bouab, Roan Van Heerden, Jamie Syme, Alex Henderson, Tom Wilson, Gregor McNeish. BT Premiership Final: Ayr v Heriots, 3pm, Millbrae (April 23) Elsewhere, Marr defeated Stewart’s Melville 55-36 in BT National League Division 1 to continue their quest for promotion and will face BT Premiership outfit Gala in the play-off.