Longwell flies to rescue
Late try seals hard fought win in shocking weather
begins his ever unfinished novel “It was a dark and stormy night…….” and Currie were first to take advantage with Jamie Forbes slotting an early penalty following that favourite blooper seen at all levels these days, the long throw 10 metres from your own line which the opposition pinches.
Exactly that happened leading up to Forbes penalty then six minutes later a powerful wave swept Currie downfield, Gossman was injured and as Ayr regrouped, a driving maul saw Thomas Gordon come up with the ball for the opening try.
Grant Anderson led a brave charge into Currie territory but when tackled the bar of soap masquerading as the match ball squirted away, and was snaffled by wing Ruaraidh Smith who surfed 55 metres for try number two converted by Forbes.
Ayr had to pull something out as the tide seemed to be flowing against them and when Scott Lyle launched a mighty crossfield kick it seemed to be to be to no one until Grant Anderson appeared out of the gloom and like a veteran wide receiver plucked the ball from the air, rounded the defence to touchdown a beauty for Forbes to convert.
With four minutes of the half left, Jamie Bova’s thrust set up the field position and when hooker Lewis Anderson got his hands on the ball it was a combination of skill and dogged determination which saw him grab the touchdown. Lyle was just wide with the kick but Ayr went in at the break only three points adrift.
The second half was all about staying afloat, concentrating, keeping discipline and in the end Ayr proved the superior as they took the lead for the first time when Jonny Agnew launched himself through a bunch of bodies for the try with Lyle’s conversion taking the score to 19- 15. Currie dug deep and laid siege to the Ayr line where the defence, as it had been against Boroughmuir, was rock solid. Some of the tactics involved in keeping the predators out however seemed to offend the Gallic interpretation of Monsieur Luc Ramos who awarded a penalty try to put Currie three points to the good.
It was then the visitors turn to face an impassioned Ayr onslaught and with the referee about to blow for time, prop Steven Longwell capped an outstanding display by grabbing the winning try from close range for Lyle to convert and finish a match which brought immense credit to both sides and illustrated what one observer concluded was ‘ A superb example of why the BT Premiership is so precious to Scottish club rugby.’