Pat MacArthur helped Ayr to victory at The Greenyards
Ayr kept their Premiership hopes alive with a narrow away win over Melrose at The Greenyards.
The men from the west coast struggled in the opening half, but shook off their lethargy to claim a 20-16 success with a much stronger display in the final 20 minutes.

The Ayr tries came from Damien Kelly, Pat McArthur and Cammy Taylor, but they could not turn their pressure into a crucial bonus point. Nick Lavelle added a penalty and conversion.

Andy Lawrie gathered the only Melrose score, with Scott Wight landing a hat-trick of penalties and the conversion.

Pacesetters Currie suffered another dose of the title jitters as they were rocked by deposed champions Glasgow Hawks.

The tense tussle was in the balance until the dying minutes before Greg Francis powered through for the clincher in a 27-22 win.

But, despite the setback, the home side remain hot favourites to bag their first top-flight crown.

The other Hawks tries were snapped up by Jamie Kerr, Nick Cox, Max Evans, with Murray Strang kicking the rest.

Ross Weston, Mark Cairns and Andy Reekie were the Currie scorers, while Ally Warnock\'s boot points at least ensuring the consolation bonus which could prove vital in the run-in.

Watsonians\' slim Premiership title hopes evaporated at Mayfield as they were toppled 31-11 by an inspired Dundee HSFP.

Graham Thomson spearheaded the Taysiders\' charge with a try in each half, the other home counter coming from Mike Kerr in stoppage time.

Cammy Ferguson was also in fine form with the boot, slotting the rest of the points.

Andy Skene bagged the sole Watsonians touchdown, while Andrew Ker saw his brace of penalties offer only a consolation.

Hawick secured Premiership survival by crushing Aberdeen GSFP 26-7 to send the Dons plunging into Division Two.

The Greens dominated the relegation showdown at Mansfield Park and underlined their superiority by earning a crucial four-try bonus point.

Most of the damage was done in the first half when John Coutts, Bruce McNeil and Graham Hogg broke through.

Nick McTaggart snapped up the only score after the break, while Rory Hutton slotted three conversions.

Aberdeen could only respond with a touchdown by flanker Grant Strang, goaled by Rob Lawson.

Heriot\'s kept their slim title hopes alive with a remarkable 48-37 derby triumph over Boroughmuir at Meggetland.

Cammy Goodall claimed a try double for the visitors, the others falling to Jim Thomson, Mark Lee, Jonny Alston and Graham Wilson - who was in majestic kicking form with all the conversions and a couple of penalties.

The Muir scorers were John Malakoty, Angus Martyn (2), Rory Couper and Charlie Keenan.

Ross Cook banged over four conversions and a penalty, the other three points being slotted by Elgan O\'Donnell.

Premiership Division One

Aberdeen GSFP 16 - Melrose 19
Ayr 30 - Currie 26
Glasgow Hawks 15 - Boroughmuir 14
Heriot\'s 32 - Dundee HSFP 18
Watsonians 52 - Hawick 6

Premiership Division Two

Biggar 27 - Stewart\'s Melville FP 0
Edinburgh Acads 21 - Cartha QP 12
GHA 13 - Jed-Forest 3
Gala 9 - Hamilton 18
Kelso 25 - Selkirk 21

With the match at Hughenden between Hillhead-Jordanhill and Premier 2 leaders Stirling falling foul of the weather, Edinburgh Accies and GHA both had the chance to close the gap and both took it gladly.

It was always close at Braidholm where GHA ran out winners over Jed by 13-3. It was deep into injury time before GHA clinched it when they disrupted a Jed scrum and Andy Boag pounced for the game\'s only try, Noonan\'s conversion ending the match.

Edinburgh Accies remain one point ahead of GHA after beating Cartha 21-12 at Raeburn Place, but after leading 16-0 at the break will be furious that they couldn\'t clinch the bonus.

Hamilton stay in fourth spot after winning 18-9 on their first ever visit to Gala with all but a penalty coming in the first half. Hamilton now pull eight points away from Stewarts Melville who went down 27-0 at Hartreemill, where Biggar threw themselves a relegation lifeline.

Premiership Division Three

Dunfermline 34 - Livingston 5
Murrayfield Wanderers 6 - Haddington 18
Perthshire 27 - Berwick 7
West of Scotland 21 - Peebles 14

West\'s 21-14 win over Peebles at Burnbrae takes them to one point behind Musselburgh and Haddington thanks to tries from Andy Park and Elliot McLaren with Fraser Sinclair adding a conversion and two penalties and Ewan Smith a final penalty.

This article was posted on 18-Dec-2006, 16:08 by Hugh Barrow.