BT Premiership form book | Ayr

Defending BT Premiership champions Ayr travel to face Melrose at the Greenyards this Saturday (7 April, kick-off 3pm) in a replay of last year’s final.

The men in pink and black showed what they’re made of in their away semi-final at Currie Chieftains, overturning an 11-point half-time deficit to win 24-21 and book their place in the final.

That performance sealed their third consecutive win and made a stern statement to Saturday’s hosts that they will need to be at their clinical best if they are to prevent Ayr holding on to the title.

Things haven’t always been so positive for the west coast side and Ayr’s early form in the league campaign left a lot to be desired.

While they won their opening match, through the boot of Frazier Climo in injury time, that was their solitary win in their opening three games, including a 17-point defeat to Melrose.

However, five consecutive victories saw Ayr soar up the table to a position they are more accustomed to and only three further losses saw them finish in third to book a play-off spot.

Callum Forrester’s team are tough to beat and a lot of credit must go to the defensive organisation and effort they have put in since September.

Ayr finished the regular season with the fewest try-scoring bonus points (7) of any side except for relegated Marr (6) and relegation play-off bound Glasgow Hawks (7).

This has translated as the lowest points difference of any of the semi-finalists but their staunch defence has leaked fewer points than any of the teams below them and ensured that, even when tries haven’t been flowing, they have been able to close-out their games.