Eight is magic number at Ayr
Millbrae men are unstoppable
power of the league leaders.
While resisting the temptation to ask what the estimable Hawks coach is on, one has to wonder what game Finlay Gillies was watching when commenting that ‘ On another day, we could have won that game’.
Yes, and on another day, Ayr wouldn’t have had two tries chalked off for marginal calls, a couple of more passes might have stuck and some of Hawks outstanding cover defence might not have worked resulting in the visitors’ side of the scoreboard reaching 50.
There was a macho cameo early on when Hawks prop and skipper, Gary Strain, opted for another scrum, having been awarded a penalty which was both kickable or useable to set up an attacking line out.
Scrum it was and for their impudence, Hawks were hoisted back at an alarming rate.
Paddy Kelly came close after a Stafford McDowall break, was stopped short and from the scrum Robbie Nairn finished off a smart bit of handling for the opening try.
Ayr hit the CUP button ( Crank Up Pressure), Hawks wilted and discovered how lousy an idea that was when Steven Longwell rampages at you.
The prop nailed try number two, Nairn collected his second, Hawks had James Couper binned and on his return, it was Strain’s turn to go to the bad boy’s room.
Hawks were putting in a power of work around the fringes to frustrate Ayr but in so doing left themselves vulnerable out wide and vulnerable, like wilting and Longwell, is not what you want to be with Grant Anderson in impish mood picking his way daintily among you.
The full back touched down, Frazier Climo converted – his first success out of four – to one would say ironic cheers only Hawks don’t ( or can’t) do irony.
That was the bonus in the bag, eight- in- a- row would have been chanted from the terraces had the game taken place elsewhere in Glesca’, and Ayr, like the man in the Malibu advert, were feeling no pain.
Nairn was denied a hat trick by a belter of a try- saving tackle from Glen Faulds, Ollie Smith dazzled again only to have a crossing call deny his try and Jamie Bova had his try nulled for a marginal forward pass.
Kelly finally eluded the defence and the referee’s whistle with a try 10 minutes from the end before Cammy Symes gave Hawks the final word with a late try but to describe it as a consolation would have been to insult even the ever- optimistic Gillies.