THE SCOTSMAN REPORTS

Ayr power enough to finish off brave Gala

ATHOLL INNES AND STUART SUTHERLAND

AYR consolidated their top-flight position with a satisfying 32-19 win at relegated Gala. Tries on either side of half-time from Stuart Kerr and Glen Tippet ended any hopes Gala had of a revival in a low key match.

But Gala fought well to cut the lead to six points before the physically stronger visitors collected the bonus point courtesy of a breakaway try from Michael Goldie.

The first half was dominated by a succession of penalties, two kicked and two missed by Ayr’s James Noonan and two successes from Gala’s Mike Dodds. Ayr scored the try their territorial advantage deserved when prop Kerr was driven over from a line-out and Noonan added the conversion from the touchline.

Dodds kicked a third penalty to reduce the deficit, but Gala gave away possession and counted the cost as Tippet forced his way over for the try, which Noonan converted.

James Adams stretched the lead with a try in 41 minutes but Gala came back with a Gavin Dalgleish try and another Dodds penalty.

Meanwhile at Old Anniesland, Glasgow Hawks were made to fight for their 27-20 win over Boroughmuir. Around the 20-minute mark, by which time Hawks had built a 13-0 lead from a Kenny Sinclair try and its conversion and two penalties by Murray Strang, it looked likely that Boroughmuir would be comprehensively defeated, but such was their recovery over the next hour, coach Bruce Reekie was able to claim with some justification that a draw would have been fair.

Reekie was unhappy with referee Ian Heard’s award of a penalty try, which with its conversion created the eventual seven-point margin between the sides.

He said: "I don’t understand how when a scrum has disintegrated it was not reset. That would have been the correct decision, but without warning how can the referee immediately award a penalty try - and then not card anyone."

Muir’s battling performance was indicative of the fact that their players know that there is still the incentive of BT Cup final place to compete for.

One man certain to start for Muir is full-back James Reilly who kicked five penalties from five attempts.

His only miss was the attempted conversion of Robert Cairns’ 79th minute try.

A storming Ally Maclay try converted by Strang had Hawks 20-6 ahead at the interval, but their only second half addition was that soft penalty try.

note from Ed --not bad for James surviving Hawks dinner and a feast of Chic Murray then helping keep Ayr up

This article was originally posted on 18-Apr-2005, 08:30 by Hugh Barrow.
Last updated by Hugh Barrow on 18-Apr-2005, 08:36.