Climo is Ayr’s drop king hero
Last gasp kick earns a glory win
by Mark Hare and Jonny Adams, both converted by Chris Laidlaw, it looked as though it might be a serious case of deja- vu.
It had taken Ayr until almost the end of the first quarter before they posed any threat and then they were frustrated by a line out drive being held up over the line.
Even with ‘ Muir’s Aubrey MnCube in the bin, Ayr gave up a try to the shorthanded opposition and it was only on the stroke of half- time that they managed a breakthrough, a swingeing move putting Climo over in the corner.
The break came at 14- 7 but Ayr knew that they would have to up their performance if they were to take anything from the game.
Accordingly, they opened with a bang, Blair Macpherson crashed over but Climo’s kick hit the post leaving Ayr still two points adrift then after a try- saving tackle on Greig Cannie, Cal Davies stretched the home side’s lead along with Laidlaw’s conversion.
Again it was Climo to the rescue, snaffling up a loose ball to go over in the corner but again the conversion was missed.
Ayr took the lead for the first time minutes later when David Armstrong stretched over for the bonus point try and Scott Lyle converted only for ‘ Muir to hit back immediately when Laidlaw and Cannie put Hare in for his double and Laidlaw’s conversion restored a four point lead.
This was cut to one point as Lyle slotted a penalty and the tension was palpable as Ayr mounted a series of attacks but were turned over in injury time. A kick, which had it found touch, would have ended the game, fell short, Ayr retaliated and, showing remarkable discipline, went through the phases until they had set up the position for Climo to apply the coup de grace.
His drop goal soared through the posts, the game was won and a huge sigh of relief came from the Millbrae faithful.
Ayr coach Calum Forrester was a relived but not particularly happy man.
He admitted: “We got out of jail in that one. We have to take our game up a level or two from that performance but we showed a lot of character to stay in the game and then to clinch the five points which is the really impressive thing about the squad.”
Climo had 15 of the 30 points and the coach said: “That shows the extra touch of class that he can bring to the game and he does it time and again.”
On Saturday, Ayr face Glasgow Hawks at Millbrae and after their 41- 28 defeat of Marr, they will be scenting an Ayrshire double.
It will take a big performance from Ayr to ensure that they don’t.