Glasgow Hawks 26 Ayr 32
Hawks
Tries​Boyer 40, Gormley 47, Miller 76
Con​Gormley 40
Pen​Gormley 4, 22, 80​
Hawick
Tries​Templeton 2, McConnell 25, Jericevich 50, C Gossman 55, Fergusson 70
Con ​Russell 25, Curle 55
Pen​Curle 78

Ayr showed their championship pedigree as they ran in five tries against Hawks at Old Anniesland on Saturday. The Glasgow holiday weekend saw a busy ground as the supporters from both sides came out for this west coast derby match on a glorious autumn day.
It seems that no Hawks home game can start these days without an early try. This time, however, it was the visitors who opened the scoring. Putting pressure on the home line with the opening salvo, it fell to second row, Callum Templeton to dive over from the base of a ruck. The conversion was missed and hawks brought narrowed the gap within a minute as Ayr immediately gave up a penalty which James Gormley put over.
Hawks pack were in the ascendant but they were unable to take advantage and just over the twenty minutes the received a 2nd penalty which Gormley goaled. Although Hawks had looked strong and indeed were dominating the lineout, Ayr were with the ball in hand. Scrum-half Murray McConnell going over with ease as tacklers failed to challenge from about 15 metres out. With Ross Curle’s conversion it was 12-6 to the visitors.
Hawks battered away at the Ayr defence and were taking most of the honours up front. Ross Miller opted for a tap penalty when it seemed the 3 points were there to be taken. The initial surge failed and the ball was recycled, just as it looked like the scoring chance had passed, Patrick Boyer took the ball and stepped inside and over for the try. Gormley goaled to give Hawks the half time lead, 13-12.
Ayr had done well to stay so close in the first half and were rewarded for their tenacity when after 10 minutes, replacement Peter Jericevich went over for the first score of the second half. Hawks were 4 points down and no one had any doubts they would be back. But former Hawks Jericevich was dominating the game marshalling his pack and putting Hawks on the back foot. Craig Gossman secured the try bonus in 55 minutes and with the extras, Hawks seemed out of the running.
But this season Hawks have been notable for their 80 minute game and Miller revitalised their hopes in 76 minutes after Angus Hamilton took clean lineout ball and the Glasgow men mauled it over the line. The losing bonus seemed in sight for the 4th time and with the Gala match in mind there was an air of expectation in the crowd.
However from the restart Ayr goaled a penalty and it was left to the last kick of the ball for Hawks to secure the losing bonus.

This article was posted on 28-Sep-2013, 19:37 by Hugh Barrow.