IT was hardly a feast of running rugby, but once the dust had settled on this bruising battle, Ayr had emerged as deserved victors, after ending their opponents’ unbeaten record in the Scottish Hydro Premiership, whilst reinvigorating their own title defence with a win which owed everything to their sheer brawny conviction.

Indeed, it was wonderfully compelling to watch Damien Kelly’s troops grab the match by the scruff of the neck and their take-no-prisoners philosophy ultimately squeezed the life out of Currie. The hosts’ talismanic Kiwi Frazier Climo, who had been a major injury doubt in the build-up, shrugged off any concerns with a masterful display, both scoring and creating his side’s tries and earning rich praise from his coach, Kenny Murray.

This had always promised to be an uncompromising contest between two streetwise packs, and there were a few juddering collisions during the opening exchanges as the teams sought to gain the ascendancy. The visitors, fresh from pulverising the likes of Selkirk and West of Scotland, were the first to settle, with Andrew Binikos and Andy MacMahon releasing the prolific Willie Moala. Perhaps predictably in the circumstances, there was a brief melee involving the forwards, but referee, Andrew MacPherson did well in keeping control of the proceedings.

Initially, Currie took the lead when Chris Kinloch wriggled in and out of a handful of ineffective tackles to break the deadlock, his try converted by Johnny Smith. And there was further concern for Ayr when their flanker, Paul Burke, was despatched to the sin bin for an injudicious challenge after 15 minutes. But gradually, Kelly’s gang cranked up the pressure and gained control of the ferocious actions at the breakdown.

Currie suffered a blow when Binikos was forced to depart on a stretcher with a serious leg injury, which prompted a lengthy delay. This necessitated a major reshuffle to their line-up, with Graham White coming on and Smith and Kinloch changing positions, and it clearly disrupted their rhythm.

However, nothing should detract from the manner in which Ayr stormed their opponents’ barricades. Climo had narrowed the deficit to 7-6 with a brace of penalties by the half-hour mark, and one sensed that the Currie coach, Ally Donaldson, was desperate for half-time to arrive so that he could reinforce the message that his team couldn’t afford to be dragged into a war of attrition. Sadly, from his perspective, the ever-dangerous Climo suddenly sparked havoc in the Currie defence with a mesmerising incision, prior to sprinting clear for a terrific try, which he converted to push his side 13-7 in front.

The question was whether Ayr could maintain their intensity and they proved up to the task, even if there was plenty need for Ralgex and the physios as the battle continued. Briefly, Currie looked capable of regaining control, but Smith missed a penalty attempt, and one suspected there might not be many more opportunities for his side.

In the event, it was Ayr who kept their composure, and retained their sangfroid to turn the screw in the final quarter. First, Climo stretched their advantage with a penalty, then he applied the coup de grace with a cross-field chip which allowed Dougie Steele to dive over for the clinching touchdown.

There was no way back for Currie from that, and although they remain at the summit of the Premiership, this was resounding proof that Ayr have no intentions of relinquishing their title. “They are a good side, but if you are prepared to take them on physically, you can compete with them,” said Murray later.

“Their try woke us up, and I am very proud of the boys. I don’t think anybody could argue that we were the better side today.”

As Murray acknowledged, the Balerno-based club have been the outstanding competitors to date at this midway stage of the Premiership campaign. But, even though Ayr have stuttered during several of their tussles, and have failed to attain the consistency which they showed last season, this is the group of big-game hunters who proved yesterday that they can go head to head with any opponents in Scotland and emerge triumphant.

Ayr: G Anderson, A Wilson, R Curle, M Stewart, C Taylor, F Climo, J Hunter, G Reid, S Fenwick, E Kalman, D Kelly (capt), S Sutherland, J Crossan, P Burke, G Tippett. Replacements used: S Adair, A Dunlop, H Mitchell, D Steele, A MacFarlane.

Currie: J Smith, W Moala, C Kinloch, A MacMahon, D Fife, A Binikos, R Snedden, A Hamilton, A Walker, A Reekie, A Adam (capt), R Wilson, S Burton, J Thomson, R Weston.Replacements used: N Scobie, G White, S Forrest, M Cairns, M Scott

Referee: A MacPherson (Stirling).