Rugby: Heriot's help Currie

Indeed, Heriot's came within a penalty kick of overhauling Ayr in the fourth minute of injury time but the attempt from near the left touchline by Greig Rutherford in his last act before retiring fell short and wide.

That Heriot's failed at the death should have come as no surprise to those who watched them struggle on the end of a string of dubious refereeing decisions. Little else had broken their way so why should an awkward kick at goal, albeit it was at least in their own hands on that occasion.

Here, Stewart's/Melville whistler Jim Matthew was hampered by a breakdown in the microphonic link with his touch-judges – and it showed in at least one of Ayr's three tries being permitted despite a blatant knock-on.

Equally controversial was a penalty decision against Heriot's under the opposition posts when it was only too apparent that an Ayr player was well offside and the award ought to have been the other way round. It spoke volumes for Heriot's resilience that they shrugged aside such raw injustice and for Rutherford, as a former Currie player, it would have been the perfect way to bow out if he'd slotted his late attempt while standing in for regular goal-kicker Graham Wilson, a withdrawal due to tonsillitis.

Afterwards Rutherford acknowledged that part of him will always be attached to Currie where he played between spells at Gala and Heriot's. "It would have been a nice way to finish, something special for a lot of friends I still have at Currie, who I wish well at Hawks on Saturday, if my kick had gone over."

Earlier, Heriot's had put strong emphasis on trying to score four tries – they got two – for a bonus point win that would have kept their hopes of re-entering the British and Irish Cup alive should speculation that four Scottish teams will be involved next season prove correct.

"We really wanted to give ourselves a chance of that place because this year's tournament was a tremendous experience," added Rutherford.

"When it came to the last kick it became a matter of wanting to win this match first and foremost but it wasn't to be."

Heriot's coach Bob McKillop sought to be diplomatic in proving reluctant to be drawn on the refereeing issues but, nevertheless, said: "Sometimes for whatever reasons it's not your night and it was one of those nights... We did enough to win, were the better team and showed more enthusiasm.

"Without a doubt – and I'm trying to pick my words carefully – there must have been doubts about at least two of their tries.

"The communications system broke down and that is not great at this level."

While the Currie contingent on the sidelines were left frustrated after early ecstasy when Heriot's raced into a 14-0 lead, they live to fight another day, title-wise; McKillop is already looking ahead to next season in highlighting the contribution of one youngster. "I was really, really pleased with Kevin Bryce at hooker and Alan Dymock was outstanding. (Second rows) Pete Eccles and CJ Osazuwa also did a good job."

Perhaps the most outstanding Heriot's player was flanker Mike Maltman but Heriot's are resigned to losing him to the pro ranks and the reason why was obvious in the way be broke two tackles for the opening try in 15 minutes, Rutherford converting.

In the second quarter Sam Johnston took a tap penalty and darted over from scrum half and it was only when Jason Syme was sin-binned for ball-killing that Ayr awakened to notch tries by Jonny Crossan and Ross Curle with Frazier Climo converting both.

The second half started in contentious fashion with Jamie Hunter knocking on and re-gathering to score and the only crumb of comfort for a dumbfounded Heriot's was that the conversion failed.

Rutherford's 54th minute penalty came as Ayr started to wilt but despite strong surges by Syme, Jonny Alston and Maltman there was no further scoring but plenty of tension with the title race continuing at least until tomorrow and possibly into tomorrow week when Ayr head for Selkirk.

Scorers:

Heriot's: Tries: Maltman, Johnston. Conversions: Rutherford (2). Penalty: Rutherford.

Ayr: Tries: Crossan, Curle, Hunter. Conversions: Climo (2).

Heriot's: C Goudie, J Alston, M Nimmo, R Mill, S Hogg, G Rutherford, S Johnston, A Dymock, K Bryce, W Blacklock, C Osazuwa, P Eccles, M Maltman, J Syme, C Fusaro. Subs: N Meikle, M Welch, J Hill, M Lee, M Goldie.

Ayr: G Anderson, A Wilson, R Curle, M Stewart, S Manning, F Climo, J Hunter, G Reid, P McArthur, S Fenwick, D Kelly, B McPherson, J Crossan, G Tippett, A Dunlop. Subs: S Adair, S Nimmo, G Swio, A MacFarlane, D Steele.

Referee: J Matthew (Stewart's-Melville).