Ayr 20 - 19 Llandovery: Ayr hang on to sustain B&I Cup dream
This victory keeps alive their hopes of becoming the first Scottish side to reach the knock-out stages of the British & Irish Cup, with victory over Doncaster Knights in their final group match on Sunday week likely to see them into the last eight.
Ross Curle and Howard Thomas exchanged penalties before Rhodri Williams touched down the opening try. With Llandovery lock Giles Vaughan in the sin-bin, Ayr responded with a try by Steven Manning.
Advertisement
Hide AdAdvertisement
Hide AdVisiting winger Jake Randell added to the visitors' try tally and, with half an hour left, Ayr trailed by 8-19. Andy Dunlop then surged over, Curle converting, and after a sustained spell of pressure, Dunlop touched down his second with a pushover try. Despite a late Llandovery rally, Ayr held on to go to second spot in the group.
Scorers: Ayr: Tries: Manning, Dunlop (2); Con: Curle; Pen: Curle. Llandovery: Try: Rhodri Williams, Randell; Pens: Thomas (2); Drop goal: Thomas.
Ayr: Anderson; Manning, Curle, M Stewart, Taylor; Fergusson, McFarlane; Reid, Fenwick (Adair), A Kelly (Sykes), D Stewart (Sutherland), D Kelly (Nimmo), Colhoun, Dunlop, Tippett (Burke). Not used: Steele, Siwo.
Llandovery: Sauro; Randell, Bowen, Grundy, Rogers (Evans); Thomas, Rhodri Williams (Allen); D. Williams, Yelland (Kajaks), Howells (Ryan Williams) (Jones), de Marigny, Vaughan, Day, Aiono, Fitzgerald. Not used: Johns.
Referee: M Carley (RFU).