An exciting but tight first-half saw Ayr trail by a single point with five minutes to go, however, outside-centre, Mark Bennett, snatched the lead with a penalty before full-back Grant Anderson collected a cross-field kick to put Ayr in the driving seat at the break.

The second-half bore a lot of promise but little fruit as both sides struggled to completely control the match. Despite the half being a somewhat stuttering affair, two second-half tries for the visitors was enough to secure the win.

Ayr assistant coach, Peter Laverie said: “Dundee played some good rugby today, they play well and they play hard for each other.

“What won the game for us today was our defence which I was really pleased with. I thought our back-row, particularly, were very good.”

Two penalty kicks from drafted professional full-back, Peter Horne, to back-row Johnno Crossan’s unconverted try meant the hosts led by a point until five minutes for the interval, 6-5.

Having missed Ayr’s conversion (and two further penalty attempts) stand-off, Ross Curle, was relieved of kicking duties with outside-centre Mark Bennett taking on the role with immediate effect.

Despite being a man down after winger, Cammy Taylor, was sin-binned for a spear tackle, Bennett gave his side a slender lead (6-8) before a wonderful converted try put them in the driving seat at the interval.

Some great interplay saw the Scottish Cup champions burst into Dundee territory and, when the free-flowing rugby was brought to a halt on the near-side of the Dundee 22, Curle hoisted a speculative, but ultimately spectacular, cross-field kick which full-back Grant Anderson leaped to collect in the try area and dot down.

Bennett added the extras, 6-15.

Half time: 6-15

The second-half began with a bang when, after just four minutes, Bennett raced through for another try which he failed to convert and, while Horne answered with another penalty, Bennett turned from scorer to creator to put Anderson through for his second.

The pacy centre cut through the Dundee defence once more, calmly drew the last man and put Anderson through for the unchallenged score. Bennett could not match his heroics with the ball in hand with his boot, 9-25.

Dundee were always committed to battling out this match and, while rightly or wrongly feeling hard done by referee Dave Walker, a high handling error was letting them down.

In spite of this, number 8, Ryan Milne, crossed for his side’s first try of the game.

Dundee had fought hard to get deep into Ayr territory and were awarded a penalty on the five metre line.

A quick tap was spun wide before it being offered back inside to the crashing Milne to score. Horne converted, 16-28

Ayr increasingly imposed their renowned physicality on the match and an affronted Dundee allowed indiscipline to creep into their play – characterised by a Bennett penalty, which was marched another ten metres into kicking range for back-chat from their front-row and accompanied by the sin-binning of Horne for hands in the ruck, 16-31.

Dundee were always committed to the fight and finally allowed winger Allan Hay to do what he’d threatened all game. Given space and ball he will score, and his fantastic solo finish on the far side touchline was testimony as he ghosted in, 23-31.

Horne was back on to make the conversion but, disappointingly for Dundee, the loss was one point shy of the losing bonus point.

Full time: 23-31

Dundee team
Peter Horne; James Fleming, Harry Duthie, Fraser Clark, Allan Hay; Ali O'Connor, Andy Dymock; Neil Dymock, Simon Forrest, Alan Brown, Richie Hawkins CAPTAIN, Andy Linton, Chris Cumming, Rob Gray, Danny Levison
Sustitutes: Callum Kerr, Darrel Russell, Ryan Milne, Rob Chessford, Stewrt Coleman

Ayr team
Grant Anderson; Steven Manning, Mark Bennett, Johnny Mclung, Cammy Taylor: Ross Curle, Jamie Hunter, Nick Cox, Stuart Fenwick, Andy Kelly, Glen Tippett, Damien Kelly CAPTAIN, Johnno Crossan, Robbie Colchoun, Andy Dunlop
Substitutes: Stephen Adair, Scott Nimmo, James Young, Dougie Steele, Richard mcCallam

Referee: Dave Walker