Ayr 32 Glasgow Hawks 7

Ayr
Tries​McCallum 11, Kelbrick 15, Fenwick, 28, Bennet 50, Jerecevich 74
Con​Russel 11, 28
Pen​Russel 35

Hawks
Tries​McPherson 78
Con ​Smart 78
Hawks and Ayr served up a very different encounter from the last time the met at Lochinch in the Cup in February. The seasiders blew their Glasgow rivals inn efficient and structured manner, leaving the home side delighted with this win at their last home match of 2013-14.
Rucking well and recycled the ball gain hard yards and Hawks did well for a time but something had to give. Hawks appeared to have cleared the danger but the Ayr wing Robbie Fergusson put a kick over the Hawks cover from the visitors ten metre line. The race was on and home number 8, Peter McCallum won the case for the ball to put Ayr ahead.
Hawks’ responded well and within minutes were challenging the Ayr line but an unfortunate interception saw Glasgow Warrior, Mark Bennet, intercept the pass and he broke through with scintillating pace. Peter Jerecivich was on hand to take the pass and he in turn offloaded to Dean Kelbrick who ran in from half way.
With Ayr, 12 points clear Hawks were struggling at this reverse and Ayr turned up the pressure. In the circumstances Hawks did well to keep Ayr at bay but it was only a matter of time before Ayr put up their third score as Stuart Fenwick went over for their third try. Ayr were 19 points clear with less than half an hour gone.
However Hawks rallied and managed to hold Ayr out until the half-time only conceding a solitary penalty in the last ten minutes of the half.
The second half started in better fashion for Hawks but Ayr’s defence were parsimonious and after absorbing a deal of pressure eventually swung back into attack as Bennet scored a five pointer and secured a try bonus for the men in Pink.
It was now a case of damage limitation for Hawks and they frustrated an Ayr side who were giving no quarter, the expected avalanche was resisted until the 74th minute when Jerecevich went over for a well deserved try as he had been a thorn in Hawks flesh since coming on from the bench.
When Hadden McPherson went over in 78 minutes it was as a result of a gargantuan team effort. Dan Smart added the conversion but by then the match had been over for some time.
Hawks go into their last match knowing that a point is still needed.

This article was posted on 15-Mar-2014, 05:57 by Hugh Barrow.