Ayr roar back in second half to complete Melrose double

Ayr completed two wins over Melrose in a week with a cup semi-final victory at The Greenyards that spoke volumes for the determination and resilience of a side aiming to make it a league and cup double.

Coachpe term ur chie’ s half time talk lifted team spirits, although there was only one score between the sides for most of the second half, but dominated by the visitors.

“They were far better than us in the first 40 minutes,” he said. “We just knew that we were not playing well enough and it was just a case of re-focussing on what we needed to do.”

Ayr will now face Heriot’s in the final at Murrayfield (27 April) as well as the playoff final this weekend.

Melrose led 12-0 just before half-time but tries either side of the break, with Michael Mvelase-julyan in the sinbin, swung the game Ayr’s way, although it did hang in the balance until full-time as the hosts battled hard.

Melrose were understrength due to injury but coach Rob Chrystie praised his players.

“I thought that the effort the boys put in was outstanding,” he said, “but Ayr played a lot more territory after the break and squeezed us in a bit.”

Melrose dominated in the first half. Conor Young drove over the Ayr line in 21 minutes, Craig Jackson converting, with Ayr lock Lars Morrice yellowcarded, and Donald Crawford added a second try for a 12-0 lead. However, in injury time, Frazier Climo, pictured, raced clear for a try which he converted.

Ayr took advantage of the extra man five minutes after the break when forward pressure brought a penalty try and Kyle Rowe’s try a further five minutes later put the visitors in the driving seat – and only a missed Climo penalty ensured that Melrose were still in the game until the final moments.