Callum Kerr @ Millbrae
The Ayrshire Bulls made light work of the Southern Knights this afternoon, running out 54-19 victors over their old foes at Millbrae. The win further cements their place at the top of the Sprint Series table with two matches left before the play-offs.
(Photo – George McMillan)
The Bulls started with swagger, slicing through and scoring within the opening 30 seconds. Southern Knights collected kick-off, but Tim Brown stripped the ball clean in the first collision of the game. From there, the ball recycled to Richie Simpson who slipped between two defenders to score. He made it a full serving of points with the conversion.
MacArthur’s men are known for their lethal line-out drive and it took 14 minutes before we seen its first attack. Alex McGuire executed the throw perfectly and was rewarded with a score after latching onto the back of the maul and marching over. Simpson made it 14-0.
Knights claimed their first try shortly after. From a charged down kick prop Jack Dobie scored the type of try a front rower dreams of. Regathering from the half-way line, he raced through an unset Bulls defence, throwing in a couple of side steps on his way to the line. The conversion made it a seven-point game.
Simpson claimed his second just after the half-hour mark. The fleet-of-foot fly-half got a beneficial bounce of the ball when his grubber didn’t connect – he regathered and danced his way through a scattered defence to score under the posts. His conversion made it 21-7.
With their foot on the gas, the Bulls secured their bonus-point try to close-out the half. Jamie Shedden managed to create a yard of space on his wing which was enough to launch him 60 metres and over the line. Simpson’s conversion made it 4/4 from the tee before the break.
Half-time: Ayrshire Bulls 28-7 Southern Knights.
Blair Macpherson – featuring from the bench for a change – got the Bulls’ account up and running for the second half. The skipper made an instant impact with a trademark bruising carry, shrugging off a flailing tackler and spinning through another to do just enough to make the line. Simpson made it five in a row from the tee.
Not to be outshone by his fly-half, Jamie Shedden sealed his brace on the 50th minute. From forty yards closer than his first effort, Simpson found his man with a lobbed pass wide, catching Shedden in full stride.
After the flurry of scoring to start the second half the knights worked their way back into the contest, with former Millbrae man Yaree Fantini looking his troublesome best at the breakdown. They got their second score of the afternoon through Allan Ferrie shortly after.
The visitors clawed back another score, with Finn Douglas finally getting to show his gas with space out wide.
The effort would be cancelled-out moments later. A well worked play from the Bulls freed up Marcus Kershaw who put over Bobby Beattie with a well-timed pass. David McCartney, on the field for Simpson, converted.
The final blow came through James Malcolm, who powered over in amongst a group of Bulls jerseys. McCartney wrapped it up from the tee.
Full-time: Ayrshire Bulls 54-19 Southern Knights.
Contributing twenty points to the victory, Richie Simpson picked up FOSROC Player of the Match honours.
Attention now turns to Friday night’s encounter with Glasgow Warriors A at Millbrae. The action kicks-off at 19.35.