Ayr U15 44 Cumnock / Kilmarnock Cougars U15 3

Ayr have a tremendous record at home and the visitors wre under no illusion that they would have to be at the top of their game.

The scoreline only tells part of the tale. The home team scored twice at the start of the game to take a 10-0 lead before David Smith slotted over a penalty to reduce the deficit to seven points. Then the Cougars seemed to go to sleep and allowed the home team to run in three further tries before the interval to go in 29-3 up.

The Cougars played better in the second half, conceding three more tries but making their opponents work hard to get those scores. Poor tackling accounted for most of the tries conceded and the defensive element of the game needs more work. On a more positive note the scrum was reasonably solid and the rucking continues to improve.

The team need to put this behind them and focus on next weeks home game against unknown quantity Annan.

Team McEwan (c), Mclaren, Harkiss, Barr, N Kerr, Gordon, Phillips, Reilly, A Kerr, Smith, Hamilton, Aitken, Howie, Paxton, Bowditch, Subs - Crawshaw, Ballantyne, Wight, Tommie, McCulloch.