Kelso 45 Ayr 33 half time 21-21
Successful road trips and Kelso Firsts do not necessarily go well together. Saturday’s journey to Millbrae in Ayr was an exception however as, despite having to play on Ayr’s second team pitch due to the Ayr Bulls later Super6 game taking precedence, they ran in 7 tries to record a fine victory so earning a bonus point and creating a stretch of clear water from the teams in the relegation zone.
There was a little debate about the final score but we think the referee forgot to include the conversion for the penalty try after half time.
Ayr opened the scoring with a converted try but that only encouraged Kelso and they went into a lead with tries by Frankie Robson and Matt Kindness, both of which were converted by Craig Dods. Ayr regained the lead with a couple of their own converted tries but a second try by Robson, which was again converted by Dods brought Kelso level at the break at 21-21.
The second half started well for Kelso when they were awarded a penalty try, which gave then the try bonus point, and then Arran Jackson scored his second try in 2 games followed by a Mark Wilson try to take Kelso well clear. There was a resurgence from Ayr with 2 tries, one of which was converted, so giving them their bonus point. Kelso completed the scoring with a late Dods try which he also converted.
With no touch judges involved at this level of rugby, it becomes increasingly more difficult for the referee as sole judge of law and, inevitably, there were a few off the ball incidents or other indiscretions leading to yellow cards and there were 2 to each side. Archie Cowens was carded for allowing himself to be punched and Blair Robertson saw yellow for a no arms tackle. 
The pleasing feature was the introduction of some youngsters for Kelso and even an old stager in Steven Patterson who had a cameo appearance in the second half. 
 All of this means that next week’s home game against Dundee has greater significance as a successful day could close the gap on the teams just above Kelso in the league.       

Kelso team: Murray Hastie; Mark Wilson; Frankie Robson; Matt Kindness; Robbie Tweedie, Craig Dods, Andy Tait; Craig Sweenie; Blair Robertson; Gareth Clark; Archie Cowens, Paudie Lawlor, Gregor Walker, Jack Walker, Kevin Dryden
Replacements: Andrew Ford, Scott Hilton, Steven Patterson, Andrew Kindness and Arran Jackson
Scorers: Frankie Robson 2, Matt Kindness 1, Arran Jackson 1, Mark Wilson 1 and 1 penalty try and Craig Dods 1 try and 4 cons