Ayrshire Bulls Win FOSROC Super6 Final
The first ever FOSROC Super6 Final saw Ayrshire Bulls crowned Champions this afternoon at the DAM Health Stadium, Edinburgh, in a highly entertaining contest.
After some fierce opening exchanges, Ayrshire Bulls opened the scoring with Elias Caven scoring in the corner following a Bulls scrum, with the ball played quickly wide for Caven to score, taking out the flag in the process. Tom Jordan converted to give Bulls' the dream start after five minutes.
Bulls' made it 0-10 soon after with a penalty safely kicked by Tom Jordan, after an offside decision against the Knights.
After 18 minutes, Knights’ forward Iain Moody broke superbly from the maul, heading for the try line he looked certain to score, before Bulls full-back Matt Davidson made an incredible last-ditch tackle to hold him up in the try area. After reviewing the try, it was not given much to the delight of the Bulls' players and management.
Mid-way through the first half, Bulls' applied some pressure to the Knights' defence. Just inside the 22m line, a superb pick along the slick surface from Tom Jordan saw Bobby Beattie chase it down for the try, but a wonderful sliding tackle from Knights' full-back Jacob Henry saw the try prevented.
The play was however pulled back for an earlier infringement against the Knights’ which saw Tom Jordan score his second penalty of the match to extend the Bulls’ lead to 13 points.
With half an hour played, Knights’ got their first points on the board, with a penalty converted by fly-half Jason Baggott to make it 3-13.
Baggott doubled his tally minutes later, with another penalty for Knights’ to make it 6-13, five minutes before the break.
The Knights’ applied some pressure just before the break, opting to kick for touch after a penalty was awarded following a line-out.
Only metres from the try line, the Bulls' defence stayed strong and a superb turnover saw the Bulls’ clear their lines to hold a 6-13 lead at the interval.
Southern Knights started the second half strongly, with the Bulls’ being reduced to 14 after a yellow card for Yaree Fantini and a penalty awarded to Knights’.
The result, Knights' opted to kick for touch in the corner and following the line-out and intense pressure on the Bulls’ try line, a quick ball saw Jacob Henry score, with the conversion added by Baggott to make it all-square at 13-13.
A high tackle from Knights' saw the Bulls' awarded a penalty, which Jordan elected to kick from just outside the 22m line. The kick sailed between the posts, for Jordan’s third successful penalty of the game, giving the Bulls' a 13-16 lead, 10 minutes into the second half.
As Fantini re-joined the action, Knights’ were awarded their 3rd penalty of the game, which Baggott once again converted to maintain his 100% record, levelling the match at 16-16.
A Bulls’ break from skipper Blair Macpherson, saw the play move into the 22, where the Bulls were awarded their 4th penalty of the match, converted once again by fly-half Tom Jordan to once again extend the Bulls’ lead by 3 points, 16-19.
Some excellent forward play saw Tom Jordan break free, however some good defence work from Knights’ saw them win yet another penalty and clear their lines.
As play entered the final 10 minutes, some fine work from the Bulls’ midfield saw forward George Thornton break free, holding off 3 tackles to hit the try line in style!
The conversion was added by Tom Jordan to extend Bulls’ lead by 10 points to 16-26.
As play entered the final eight minutes, Bulls’ were yet again reduced to 14 as Jordan Lenac was given a yellow for tackling off the ball.
With four minutes to play, Tom Everard was then shown a straight red for a high tackle – leaving Bulls’ with 13 on the field - as he raced to defend a high ball in the corner, which saw Knights’ full-back Jacob Henry leave the field on a stretcher.
The resulting penalty saw Knights’ kick for touch in the corner, and with some outstanding Bulls’ defensive work and a try saving tackle from George Thornton Bulls’ were able to play out of trouble with only two minutes left on the clock.
The Bulls’ defended with their lives to prevent a Knight’s score in the closing seconds, holding on to lift the FOSROC Super6 Title!
Coach Pat MacArthur said:
"We started well, put ourselves in a good position and a big part of what we are trying to teach the team, it's a young team we have is how to control what you can control, you will get some pressure on you and it's the ability to just keep to our systems and keep to our shape, especially in defence. and you see at the end there, the effort the boys put on together to hold anyone out is second to none so credit to them for that."
FULL TIME: 16-26
MAN OF THE MATCH: Tom Jordan
TEAMS:
AYRSHIRE BULLS
15. M. Davidson, 14. A.Tait, 13. B.Beattie, 12. T.Williams, 11. E.Caven, 10. T.Jordan, 9. J.Lenac
1. G.Thornton, 2.A.McGuire, 3. M.Scott, 4.E.Bloodworth, 5.T.Everard, 6.R.Sweeney, 7.Y.Fantitni, 8.B.Macpherson (Captain)
Replacements: 16. R.Tanner, 17.R.Sayce, 18. C.Henderson, 19. R.Jackson, 20. G.Wilson, 21. H.Warr, 22. C.Townsend, 23. G.Lowe
SOUTHERN KNIGHTS
15. J.Henry, 14. P.Anderson, 13. N Godsmark, 12. B.Wara, 11. S.Pecquer, 10. J.Baggott, 9.M.Mcandrew, 1. G.Shiellls (Captain), 2. F.Renwick, 3. E Mclaren, 4.D.Suddon, 5. A.Runciman, 6.H.Borthwick, 7.R.Knott, 8. I.Moody
Replacements: 16. R.Anderson, 17. S.Gunn, 18. C.Crookshanks, 19. D.Redpath, 20. A.Ferrie, 21. C.Jones, 22. C.Scott, 23. A.Mitchell
TRIES: E.Caven, G.Thornton (Bulls), J. Henry (Knights)
CONVERSIONS: T.Jordan (X2, Bulls), Baggott (X1 Knights)
PENALTIES: T. Jordan (X4 Bulls), Baggott (X3 Knights)
CARDS: Yellow: Y.Fantini, J.Lenac, Red: T.Everard (Bulls)
Bulls Seal Victory Over Stirling
David Graham at Millbrae:
The Ayrshire Bulls pulled off a convincing win over Stirling County at Millbrae this afternoon with a 48-17 victory.
The home side scored 7 tries courtesy of; Matt Davidson, Yaree Fantini (x2), Blair Macpherson, Robert Beattie, Gavin Wilson and Elias Caven.
Tom Jordan and Christian Townsend both added conversions and penalties respectively.
A superb performance from the Bulls saw them secure a victory that will have no doubt tasted even sweeter after suffering defeat in the final seconds last time out against Stirling.
Double try scorer Yaree Fantini picked up the FOSROC Super6 Man of the Match Award to complete a superb afternoon at Millbrae.
(Yaree Fantini receiving his award from skipper Blair Macpherson)
Bulls coach Pat MacArthur was delighted with the bonus-point victory and said afterwards:
“The boys started with a lot of intensity and to be honest that set the tone for the game and credit to them.
Backing up performances is another thing you have to learn to do and we did well.”
On his side’s defensive efforts he said:
“The Super6 as you see in a lot of the games, they can be won by either team so at points you are going to have to defend really well.
We’ve done a huge amount of work and a big focus of our pre-season was our defensive setup and setting our stall out.
Credit to Stirling they had a spell of 12 or 13 minutes where they really put us under a lot of pressure and our boys stuck to our systems and kept up with their effort and managed to turn the ball over with a couple of good tries.”
Asked about other performances that stood out Pat said:
“I thought Tom Williams was outstanding today, his ball carrying and playmaking, he had a really outstanding game, then you look at your 10,12 and 13, (Tom Jordan, Tom Williams & Robert Beattie) they are all working well, then we can bring in Christian (Townsend) and our number 9’s are all interchangable, and a big part of where we are at is strength & depth.”
The Bulls next action is in one weeks’ time (Sun 19th September) when they travel to Heriot’s Rugby. The action kicks off at 13.30 and will be shown live on Free Sports with highlights available shortly after.
Ayr Beat Gala in First Home Game of the Season
David Graham at Millbrae:
Ayr made it two wins from two as they saw off Gala Rugby at Millbrae this afternoon with an emphatic 37-20 victory.
(Frazier Climo holds off the Gala defence. Photo – George McMillan).
The opening exchanges saw both sides battle for possession but it was the home side who created the first chance of the match inside 10 minutes, however the final pass after a free-flowing move was loose and dribbled into touch.
Four minutes later, Ayr had their first try of the afternoon.
An excellent attacking move saw club captain Cameron Recce hit the try line, with the conversion narrowly wide from centre Frazier Climo.
Just after the 20 minute mark, Gala levelled the score with full-back Matt Reid crossing the try line, Gala making no mistake with the conversion as they took a 7-5 lead thanks to fly-half, Craig Dods.
10 minutes later Ayr re-took the lead, as Frazier Climo fended off 2 Gala players with sheer strength and power to touch down beside the posts.
Bova took the conversion but for the home side it was narrowly wide once again, with Ayr now 5 points ahead.
That lead was soon 10 points minutes later as some excellent midfield play and quick passing saw scrum-half Adam McGowan score in the corner. Bova’s conversion was once again just wide of the posts.
On the stroke of half-time, Gala opted to kick after being awarded a penalty which Dods converted, to close the gap to 7 points. Some 90 seconds later the game was level as Marius Tamosaitis picked the ball up in the ruck and powered through for the line, converted once again by Dods.
(Man of the Match Frazier Climo hits the try line. Photo – George McMillan).
A quick start to the second-half saw forward Seth Rae score Ayr’s 4th try of the match. Frazier Climo this time denied by the post as his conversion clipped it and fell wide.
Gala were reduced to 14 early into the second period as Murray Wilson saw yellow for a high-tackle.
Without question the try of the afternoon on 50 minutes, Daniel McCluskey picked the ball up just after half-way. A quick-thinking kick over the Gala defence saw McCluskey in a foot-race with Gala full-back Matt Reid.
An unfortunate, or fortunate bounce saw McCluskey collect the ball and score in the corner, to the delight of the home crowd. Climo’s conversion was pulled wide, with Ayr 10 points ahead.
A Gala penalty, once again converted by Dods looked to have sparked the start of a comeback, however Ayr were then awarded their own penalty right in-front of the posts, with Climo converting.
The final minutes off the game saw Man of the Match, Frazier Climo, once again at the heart of the action with a superb fend then offload to McCluskey, who scored his second try of the afternoon.
Climo converted with ease to see Ayr finish 37-20 victors.
(The Ayr players lap up their victory. Photo – George McMillan).
Tries:
Ayr – Cameron Reece, Frazier Climo, Adam McGowan, Seth Rae, Daniel McCluskey x 2
Gala – Marius Tamosaitis, Matt Reid
Conversions:
Ayr – Jamie Bova, Frazier Climo
Gala – Craig Dods x 2
Penalties:
Ayr – Frazier Climo
Gala – Dods x 2
Yellows:
Gala – Murray Wilson
Ayr: 15. Richie Simpson, 14. Jamie Bova, 13. Harry Lynch, 12. Frazier Climo, 11. Daniel McCluskey, 10. Ross McCorkindale, 9.Adam McGowan; 1. Caleb Rae, 2.Stuart Collier, 3. Ben Cree, 4. Euan Hamilton, 5. Seth Rae, 6. Michael Kirk, 7. Cameron Young, 8. Cameron Reece (captain)
Replacements: 16. Gregor Lynch, 17. Logan Richardson, 18. Morgan Leatherbarrow, 19.Craig Brown, 20. John Fulton
Gala: 15. Matt Reid, 14. Fergus Johnston, 13. Murray Wilson, 12. Tim McKavanagh, 11. Ben Gill, 10. Craig Dods, 9. Lachlan Johnston; 1. Kyle Scott, 2. Jack Easson, 3. Marius Tamosaitis, 4.Cameron Tate, 5. Richard Tod, 6. Taylor Wilson, 7.Liam Scott (captain), 8. Stephen Cairns
Replacements: 16. Adam Keeler, 17.Lochie Milne, 18. Mark Amos, 19. Gregor Mein, 20. Harris Rutherford
Photos courtesy of George McMillan.