AYR joined Glasgow Hawks, Heriot's and Melrose in today's BT Scottish Cup semi-final draw after this ten-tries-to-nil demolition of their lower league opponents, but, one or two of the Old Anniesland faithful were claiming at the end: "Actually, we got a draw, since Ayr are 60 points better than us any day of the week".
Of course, the best team in the BT Premiership over the regular season comfortably beat the lowest-ranked side left in the Cup, but, in a concerted second-half spell of pressure, GHK gave their hosts as hard a defensive test as they have had all season. Indeed, several Ayr supporters were willing the visitors on, however, the pink and black line, taut though it was stretched, held. Fair play to the Glasgow side, as they spurned several easy penalty chances, to try to score that elusive touch down.
GHK Coach, Cammy Little was delighted with his men's performance. He said: "We're not the biggest team, and Ayr had some huge guys out there, but, we adjusted, and we kept going. It was so disappointing we couldn't get over the line in that final 20 minutes, when we had them under pressure.
"I was worried, the way they shoved us off our own ball in the early scrums, but, we dug in, adjusted and our belief in what we were doing held. Ayr's pace, power, playing experience and physicality was something we haven't had to face before, and this emphasises the gap between a purely amateur side like us and a semi-professional one like Ayr.
"We defended well, as did Ayr, it was disappointing to lose just our second game in two years, but, we have learned a lot today which will serve us well in the future".
Opposite number Calum Forrester was pleased to be able to blood one or two young, fringe players, and to see his squad emerge with a win and: "Nothing worse than a few bumps and bruises".
He now looks forward to their final league game, at Hawick on Saturday, then two semi-finals, in the Cup and the Premiership Play-offs.
"It's been a disjointed season, but, now we have a run of meaningful games. This was a good work-out for us today, we largely maintained our accuracy, this match was a completely different challenge to last week's at Stirling, but, our journey continues and I have to be happy".
Ayr's ten tries were shared equally over the two halves. Man of the Match Steven Longwell, Craig Gossman, Frazier Climo, Blair Macpherson, then Gossman again touched down in the first half, with Climo converting three of the tries.
Richard Dalgleish kept the score-board moving with tries in the 44th and 46th minutes, with Macpherson scoring his own personal second, converted by Climo. GHK hit back to mount a sustained spell of pressure on the home line. Forrester went to his bench and Scotland Club XV number eight Peter McCallum came on to score what has become an almost obligatory try this season.
Then, in the final minute, Gossman completed his hat-trick and Ross Curle, who had been on the bench after midweek illness, goaled the conversion from the touchline to bring-up the 60 points. With the final kick of the match.
Ayr now focus on their two crucial semi-finals, while GHK's attention returns to league business and promotion from National League 3, where they top the table by seven points from West of Scotland, and, with games in hand, seem all but certain to go up at the end of the season.
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