MELROSE sped to the top of the BT Premiership with this win at Millbrae. Sped is correct, because the pace of winger Sam Pecquer was a crucial ingredient in their victory, writes Matt Vallance.
Coach John Dalziel gave: "massive credit" to his men, for the way they calmly, in the second half, battled back to snatch victory.
"We found ourselves in the second half, I have to be happy", Dalziel continued.
Opposite number Calum Forrester is becoming the master of the short post-match comment: "Deja Vu", is all he said, or needed to say.
Ayr have now lost four of their last five home games. In the last three, they have lost from a winning position. These are worrying times in Alloway.
Frazier Climo signalled his return with a scything run for an eighth minute Ayr opener. He failed to convert, then saw Joe Helps open 'Rose's account with a 26th minute penalty, after Andy Dunlop was yellow-carded. However, the Kiwi stand-off converted Ali Price's superb solo try, right on half-time, to put Ayr 12-3 ahead.
What Ayr veteran Andrew Pickles described as: "The best team try I've seen at Millbrae", scored by Robbie Fergusson almost straight from the resumption, converted by Climo, made it 19-3, before Helps' second penalty cut the home lead by three points.
Ayr then butchered three or four great chances to put the game to bed and after, Fergusson missed a "gimme" penalty in 57 minutes – Melrose gained new heart.
They won the game in the final 12 minutes. Graham Dodds drove over off an advancing maul, then Pecquer zipped up the left to put Fraser Thomson in to make it a three-point game.
Pecquer wasn't finished. With four minutes left he zig-zagged through in a great 50-metre sprint, Richard Taylor converted and the 'Rose was blooming.
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