Highland heartbreak as Ayr raid full points at Canal Park on opening day of the season
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National League One
Highland 12
Ayr 13
Highland paid the penalty on the opening day of the National One league campaign as they fell to defeat against Ayr at Canal Park.
It was the first competitive match Highland had played in 547 days due to the pandemic which resulted in all league action being stopped on March 13, 2020.
But it did get off to a great start for Highland who scored their first try after 18 minutes through Owen McDonald with Scotty Fraser converting.
Mike Gordon scored Highland's second try which went unconverted to give them a 12–0 lead with Ayr scoring a penalty to make it 12–3 at half time.
However Highland were reduced to 14 men early in the second half when Stuart Watson was sent off for a tip tackle.
Ayr made the man advantage count when Ross McCorkindale threw a back hand offload to Frazier Climo to score a try under the posts which was converted to make it 12-10 with 10 minutes remaining.
Ayr took the lead with three minutes remaining when Jamie Bova converted a penalty to make it 13-12 and held on for victory to pick up the four points.
Highland were awarded a bonus point for losing by less than seven points.
Meanwhile in Caledonia League Two, Highland 2nd XV got their campaign off to a rampant start as they scored seven tries to thrash Ross Sutherland 41–0 in Invergordon.
