Melrose v Ayr - 6/9/25
Melrose v Ayr – 6/9/25
Having been piped onto the pitch last weekend good Melrose play for this Round 3 Arnold Clark Men’s Premiership match was encouraged by the thunderous beating of a drum somewhere in the stand. On an overcast, but warm and still afternoon it only took the visitors two minutes to awaken the score-keeper, when, from a penalty lineout maul in the Church Corner, Lewis McNamara found a hole in the Melrose defence and stepped over for the opening try. With an injury to Jack Craig in the warm-up David McCartney replaced him from the bench, leaving the Ayr bench a man short, but it did not stop McCartney converting the try. Five minutes later, from a penalty lineout rolling maul in St. Mary’s Corner, Ed Bloodworth emerged from a pile of bodies claiming Ayr’s second try which McCartney converted. On 15 minutes Fergus Johnston was sent to the naughty step for a deliberate knock on. Melrose kicked the penalty to the Town Corner and, instead of a driving maul, the ball was passed to Roly Brett whose onward pass to Corey Goldsbrough allowed the centre to race in for a try converted by Brett. At 27 minutes Goldsbrough became provider off-loading to Rory McHaffie who shrugged off the final Ayr defender to score to the left of the posts with Brett converting to level the scores. The half ended with Jamie Drummond earning himself a ten--minute rest for, apparently, punching. It was refreshing to observe a referee, with front row playing experience, punishing illegal front row binding, and refusing to accept refereeing “advice” from senior players who should know better.
Half time – Melrose 14 Ayr 14.
The Ayr pack had, obviously, been given sound advice at the break for, in the second half, their performance improved and it became dominant, pushing the Melrose pack off the ball on several occasions. However, it took until 56 minutes before Johnston managed to squirm over for a try converted by McCartney. The Ayr bonus point try came at 63 minutes with a sweeping attacking move. Bobbie Beattie completed the move by evading a Melrose tackle to score in the Town Corner with McCartney converting. Although Ayr deserved their victory Melrose were unlucky in failing to earn, at least, a losing bonus point.
Melrose Stewards’ “Man of the Match” – Corey Goldsbrough.
Melrose 14 Ayr 28.
Melrose – Rory McHaffie, Fin Douglas, Corey Goldsbrough, Roly Brett, Declan Mulcahy, Roan Frostwick, Douglas Crawford, Jack Dobie, Ben McLean, Oli Anderson, Elliot Ruthven, Angus Runciman©, Ollie Furness, Zander McTaggart, Ru Campbell. Replacements – Will Ferrie, Logan Kirk, Robbie Robinson, Thomas Brown, Sam Derrick, Paddy Anderson, Matty Bertram.
Ayr – Luca Bardelli, Adam McGowan, Jamie Shedden, Andrew Stirrat, Robert Beattie, David McCartney, Fergus Johnston, Jamie Drummond, Jamie McAughtrie, Rhodri Tanner, Ed Bloodworth, Oscar Baird, Ryan Sweeney, Lewis McNamara, Blair Macpherson©. Replacements – Jake Paton, Calvin Henderson, Ruairidh Sayce, Tim Brown, Seth Rae, Rory Jackson.
Referee – Calum Wehmeyer.
Assistants – Darren Fisher & Bob Nevins.
Photos by Andy Mclean Digital Images
