Here we go again for Melrose final

As records go, it is pretty impressive. Ayr will face Melrose at Murrayfield in the BT Cup final on April 22, their fifth appearance in the final in eight seasons and the fourth time they will have played Melrose.

In those previous three encounters, in 2009- 10, they won 36- 23 and in 2010- 11 they defended the cup winning 25- 21. In 2011- 12, Ayr lost 24- 10 to Gala then in 2013- 14 came the epic extra time win over Melrose with the final play by 28- 25.

All the hoopla of finals day is to look forward to however and of more pressing importance is the semi- final of the BT Premiership playoffs at Millbrae on Saturday where Ayr will again face Glasgow Hawks as they did last weekend when they booked that place in the BT Cup final.

Skipper Peter McCallum revealed: “We have had a bit of a break but our training sessions have been good in building towards the semis and hopefully finals.

“Things went the way we wanted on Saturday as we stuck to the game plan and dominated in the first half playing the game in the right areas of the pitch.

“Whenever they got any momentum, we managed to snuff it out and really gave very little away.

“We can’t afford to be complacent going into the play- off semi final on Saturday because they could be a different side with a different attitude but to have been up against it in three games out of three now, it must be a bit demoralising. Put it this way, I would rather be in my shoes than theirs.”

Melrose face Currie in the other semi- final and should they win, Ayr will travel to the Greenyards for the final on April 15 if they beat Hawks. If Currie and Ayr prevail, the final will be at Millbrae.