The Ayrshire Bulls bagged their second win on the bounce with an emphatic 10-29 victory over Southern Knights at the Greenyards. It was a slow starter, with the teams locked horns at 3-3 after 35 minutes before two scores in quick succession sent the Bulls on their way.
On the full-time whistle Head Coach Peter Murchie was elated with his sides performance: “I’m really happy to come down to the Southern Knights and get five points. “The Knights gave away a lot of penalties in the first half and that gave us field position. We were frustrated we weren’t taking opportunities… we then managed to get one, then a yellow card (to the knights), then we executed a good backline play so went in with a fairly healthy lead”. Scotland U20s star Ross Thompson, who was selected over club stalwart Frazier Climo to start, was named FOSROC Man of the Match after a 14-point haul. Peter Murchie was delighted with his performance: “We need to give guys opportunities. We have a 35-man squad… He has done well off the bench in the first two games and we gave him an opportunity tonight. “He did well, managed the game well in the first half and scored a good try”. The 3-3 stalemate was broken on the 37th minute by Sam Kitchen, who barrelled over from the back of a rolling maul. Thompson converted before adding a score of his own a minute later. The fly-half palmed off his opposite number to spring through the line and finish masterfully. He added the extras for good measure, too. Half-time: Southern Knights 3-17 Ayrshire Bulls. The hosts struck first after the break with Russell Anderson dotting down in similar style to Kitchen’s earlier effort. Jason Baggot slotted the conversion to make it 10-17. The Bulls’ hooker wasn’t done yet and stretched the lead on the 55th minute. Once again latching onto the back of the maul, this time kitchen broke off on a slowly run. He dived clear in the corner, unphased by his trademark red scrum-cap being ripped off on the charge. The final try for Ayr came courtesy of Glasgow Warrior Stafford McDowall, who charged down a kick in the 22, gathered and ran home. Thompson poetically ended the scoring with the conversion. Full-Time: Southern Knights 10-29 Ayrshire Bulls. It was different fortunes for the Club XV, who struggled to get going against Heriots Blues, losing 38-0.