GHA RFC MATCH 40: AYR RFC 23 – 22 GHA RFC
2003/2004: Scottish Premiership One
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AYR RFC
GHA RFC| M. Goldie | 15 | A. Bulloch |
| J. Steel | 14 | R. Watson |
| K. Bruning | 13 | R. West |
| N. Lavelle | 12 | I. Leighton |
| S. Magorian | 11 | I. Kennedy |
| G. Ferguson | 10 | J. Noonan |
| K. Sinclair | 9 | S. Cowan |
| L. Bruning | 1 | C. Hastie |
| N. Meikle | 2 | G. Inglis |
| G. Sykes | 3 | G. Walsh |
| S. Lines | 4 | I. Smith |
| C. Pollock | 5 | J. Eddie |
| S. Heaton | 6 | L. Hazelton |
| P. Burke | 7 | J. Fitzpatrick |
| D. Kelly | 8 | A. Plastow |
| E. Logan | 16 | A. Williamson |
| T. Wright | 17 | S. O’Donnell |
| G. Tippett | 18 | |
| 19 | ||
| Sykes | Try | Smith, Cowan |
| Con | ||
| Lavelle (6) | Pen | Noonan (4) |
| DG | ||
| Referee | ||
| Mr T. Coutts (Watsonians FC) | ||
GHA again saw victory elude them by the narrowest of margins, as both sides showed they had improved immeasurably since Ayr won 9-3 at Braidholm earlier in the season, Ayr perhaps having matured more into an outfit capable of holding their own in Premier Division 1.
Ayr led 4-3 on the penalty kick count at half-time, Nick Lavelle and James Noonan having taken every chance offered. Lavelle opened the second half with his fifth penalty but a skewed Michael Goldie clearance allowed Rory Watson to scamper down the right wing, keep the ball alive and watch lock Ian Smith complete the job. A point ahead, Ayr increased that lead with a Gordon Sykes close-quarter try, but three minutes later scrum-half Scott Cowan crossed. Noonan failed with the conversion although his penalty a minute later put GHA ahead for the first time. Lavelle’s sixth successful penalty was enough to scrape the win.
