UNDERDOGS Carrick Rugby Club pulled off the mother of all comebacks in spectacular style at Murrayfield.
But hopes of making in a glorious South Ayrshire double at the sun-scorched home of rugby on Saturday were dashed when Ayr missed out on glory.
The Maybole side had been 21-10 just before half-time in their BT Shield final against hosts Murrayfield Wanderers. However they then reeled in a staggering 31 unanswered points to defend the trophy they won against Highland last year.
However it was not to be for the Millbrae side, who a week after defeating Melrose to win the BT Premiership League Play-off Final, they went down 23-18 to the same side in the showpiece BT Cup final at rugby hq.
Carrick Rugby head coach Gordon Brown was still trying to scrape himself off the ceiling, after enjoying a party well into the wee small hours on return to Maybole.
He said: "We were the clear underdogs as Murrayfield had won the East League title and they were tipped to win. And I must admit I was worried at 21-10 when we were left temporarily with 14 men as Kyle Johnson had to go off with cracked ribs and Iain Speirs was given a yellow card. But we kept showed great character, kept battling and scored a try before half-time through our replacement Lewis Clark before half-time to get back into it and he went on to play a key role by completing a hat-trick.
"In the second half we were different class and scored 31 unanswered points. It's a great achievement for a club like Maybole to win a trophy when you consider we don't even have a club house and the players have to change at Carrick Academy before the games. It's so satisfying when you think that with the odd exception he have home-grown talent and a eally good youth system.
"We had great backing from 700 fans but the only drawback was as it was such a late kick-off, 5.45pm most people didn't get back to Maybole until after 11pm. The cup final was made an earlier kick-off time because a club in the east complained. The distance we had to travel should be taken into account."
Brown is hoping the success can be a springboard for more glory and said: "Murrayfield said to us they were amazed we were not playing in a higher league. The aim must be to get promotion."
Ayr head coach Calum Forrester took defeat in his stride and said: "All credit to Melrose for taking their chance. They’ve had a great season, and we want to congratulate them. It’s been a brilliant year for Ayr too and I thank our players and my fellow coaches for all their hard work in the league and cup competitions."
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