Callum Kerr @ Millbrae
Nothing could separate the two sides in action at Millbrae this evening with the Ayrshire Bulls and Heriot’s Rugby match concluding in a 26-26 draw. The Bulls were bookies favourite after 15 minutes, holding a 21-0 lead, but the visitors rallied back and a 5-26 run resulted in a stale-mate.
The Bulls started in glimmering fashion. On his first touch on the ball Frazier Climo rolled back the years with a trademark line break, slipping through two Heriot’s defenders to open the scoring after five minutes.
A scintillating solo effort from Luca Bardelli followed. The wiry winger danced his way around an attempted tackler and broke free. When the defenced closed in on him he hacked the ball on before winning the footrace to the line.
A close-range score soon after from Jamie Shedden – and three successful conversions in a row for Eli Caven – made it 21-0 after fifteen minutes.
Heriot’s heads didn’t drop. Two tries before the break, the first from Aiden Boyle and the second from former bull Cam Jones, made it a one-score game at the break.
Half-time: Ayrshire Bulls 21-14 Heriot’s Rugby.
After the interval the Bulls acted swiftly to regain their cushion. Caven broke down the wing and managed to find the supporting Rory Jackson with an offload when brought down short. The second rower didn’t need a second invitation to finish the job.
Heriot’s responded in the similar style of earlier and a converted try ten minutes later brought the gap down to five.
With the game marching towards its’ conclusion Heriot’s ran in another – this time through seasoned campaigner Ian Wilson. Ross Jones’ conversion would have put them ahead, but the ball sailed wide of the uprights.
The Bulls had a late spurt. Their best effort came through Jamie Shedden who was brought down short of the line when a heriot’s hand latched on to the back of his shirt. Despite the home sides best attempts Heriot’s held strong to secure the draw.
(IMAGE – George McMillan)
Full-time: Ayrshire Bulls 26-26 Heriot’s Rugby.
Rory Jackson was named FOSROC Player of the Match after an industrious eighty-minute performance which was capped off with the sides only try of the second half.
The draw results in a straight shoot-out on Friday night against Watsonians for a spot in the FOSROC Super Series Sprint Final. The action is back at Millbrae and kicks off at 19.35.