Duo will swap Dubai for Netherdale

With the frost denying them even a warm- up ‘ hit- out’, it is a long 28 days for Ayr between their BT Premiership win over Heriot’s and the three match resumption before Christmas against Gala.

“One week too many if, like Currie and ourselves, you have had no game time,” said coach Calum Forrester, a thought echoed by skipper Pete McCallum.

“The lay- off has give the boys a chance to get over a few knocks but getting back won’t be easy, particularly with three border sides to play on successive weeks. I have never had an easy game against Gala at any level and Gala, Hawick and particularly Melrose have got so much to play for at both ends of the table. Every one will be tough but especially at the Greenyards in which could be the game which determines who tops the BT Premiership.

“If we get the results we want, then I feel that going into the new year we could be the team to catch.”

Now if you have had the heating on full blast over the last few days and been scraping the ice off the car in the mornings, what could entice you more than a trip to Dubai to take part in a sevens this week.

Such was the offer on hand for McCallum and Craig Gossman but they turned down the invitation from the Projex Waterboys to head instead for the chill of Gala.

That is the sort of commitment this Ayr squad thrives on. However, having forsaken Dubai for Netherdale, McCallum remarked that ‘ it will make us even more determined to get a result at Gala!”