AYR'S roller-coaster season continued right to its bitter end, at Millbrae on Saturday evening.

At times the men from the Burns Country have produced delightful, exciting rugby, at other times, they have shot themselves in both feet and sure enough, they continued this pattern in this glorious BT Premiership play-off semi-final.

"We earned the right to home advantage by winning at Melrose last week," pointed-out home coach Calum Forrester.

"But, on the day we killed ourselves, by not looking after the ball when we had it. I felt we played the better attacking rugby, on reflection, perhaps we were too-ambitious at times, but, fair play to Melrose, they kept going, came back from ten points down and we wish them well in the final."

Forrester will not criticise individual players in public, but, the truth was, silly mistakes, by experienced players, cost Ayr dear in this game. They butchered at least three great try-scoring opportunities by wrong option-taking.

However, to say Ayr blew it, would be unfair to a focussed and determined visiting squad, who seemed down and out midway through the second half, yet recovered to win.

"We used the fact we are still champions until at least after the play-off final, to re-focus the guys after last week's disappointing result," Melrose coach John Dalziel revealed.

"We studied the videos, we had three terrific training sessions this week, I was sure we could come here and win," he added.

"Both games were nervy, there is literally nothing between us and Ayr, the respect is mutual, but, I am so-happy we won this one. I knew somebody would be disappointed today and I am delighted it isn't us. Now, we are determined to go to /Goldenacre and hold onto the title."

The match itself sizzled from start to finish. Ross Curle and Joe Helps exchanged early penalty goals, then Ayr worked through the phases to win the space for Cammy Taylor to squeeze over in the corner for an unconverted try.

But, Melrose took the lead into the break after Grant Runciman got the touch-down at the conclusion of a marvellous rolling maul from the visiting pack, Helps converting.

In 51 minutes, a surging run by skipper Dean Kelbrick and Curle's conversion put Ayr back in front. Then, within three minutes, Grant Anderson sent Robbie Fergusson over for an unconverted try, and things looked black for the visitors.

Again, however, their tight mauling came good, Graham Fisken pulled ond such surge down, earning a yellow card, while Richard Mill converted the Penalty Try which Fisken had conceded.

Finally, Anderson was left exposed and failed to gather a wickedly bobbling hack through, Melrose re-cycled and Murdo McAndrew dived in for the winning try.

All Melrose had to do was keep the ball until the end. They coughed it up with two seconds remaining, Ayr then managed to work their way downfield into the sixth extra minute, before Curle was bundled into touch at the corner and 'Rose had won.

Melrose also regained possession of the Bill McLaren Shield with this win in a match which showed - semi-finals need not be nervy, cautious games.