RUGBY TEAMS AT THE DOUBLE
Team under siege see off ‘ Muir
The question being asked in the press box at Millbrae at half time was whether attrition was spelled with one t or two.
That was the word on most people’s lips after they had watched Ayr hold out for the best part of 40 minutes as Boroughmuir pounded their line, played the game inside the home 20 metre, tried the direct route, spread the ball wide and did everything but score as they foundered on a rock- like defence.
Only in the early stages did Ayr visit opposition territory but it was long enough for Scott Lyle to slot a penalty, which turned out to be the only score of the first- half.
The Muir pack pummelled and probed but, unlike last week when they had rolled over in the face of a fearsome Watsonian assault, Ayr kept their defensive shape and most importantly their discipline. It was remarkable to defend for so long without giving away a kickable penalty.
On the rare occasion that they broke out there was little in the Ayr attack to suggest they would add to their score and as the half wore on and Robin Hislop was invited to take 10 minutes out on the naughty boys’ step it seemed only a matter of time before the 14 men would leak points.
They held on but the thought occurred that the effort of keeping a clean slate might have taken its toll on Tommy Spinks, Pete McCallum and the rest of the pack to the extent they might have little left in the tank for the second 40 minutes.
They did though and raced into the lead in only the second minute after half- time, a Stafford McDowall break releasing Robbie Nairn to blast over in the corner.
Lyle missed the conversion, the only points he left on the field, and, having taken over from the injured Frazier Climo, boomed clearances that set the visitors back 50 and 60 metres at a time.
Ten minutes into the half came a score from a youngster making his first appearance off the bench and it is one Sam Graham will remember for a long time.
Taking a pass on the left touchline, he scorched away but it was not only his pace which impressed but the show of the ball for an inside pass, which deceived the defence, before finding even more gas to go in for a superb score.
Greg Cannie got Boroughmuir on the board with a penalty, Lyle replied in kind then the Ayr pack, which had been reduced by a couple of rather harsh yellow cards for Scott Sutherland and Blair Macpherson, powered up and breenged over the Muir line for David Young to claim the score.
Lyle converted and with six minutes left the job was done. Although Euan McKirdy and Jordan Edmunds ran in tries for Muir as the early winter gloom descended, it made little difference to the outcome.
Ayr had shown again that when it comes to the grit and grind of close- quarter defence they can be as efficient as they can in attack and, even with the introduction of Edinburgh and Scotland speedster Damien Hoyland into the opposition ranks in the second half, they gave little away.
They had put the nightmare of the previous week behind them and proved that they are still a force to be reckoned with to their support but, more importantly, to themselves.