Stewartry Sirens set for Tennent's Women's Premiership play-off after win over Ayr

Stewartry’s improving Sirens are just one match away from joining the Scottish elite in women’s rugby.

Their comfortable 39-0 weekend victory over Ayr Ladies – the last league encounter of the season – cemented second spot in the Tennents National One division.

That has earned them a trip to Inverurie to fight out promotion to the premiership with table-toppers Garioch. Head coach David Thomson said: “After two seriously physical rugby games against both Wests last weekend and Ayr this week, the team have proven that they deserve the play-off spot on February 27 away at Garioch.

“We knew that these were going to be massive games but scoring 72 points and conceding none, only proves how good this team has been this season.

“It’s testament to the players and coaching staff for the time, commitment and efforts that we have this opportunity to compete at the highest level in Scottish women’s rugby again.” The hard work was completed in typical February rugby weather with wind and driving rain at Greenlaw.

The Sirens had to soak up early pressure as Ayr settled into their game with the centres running good lines.

But they soon found familiar patterns that saw them knocking at the door with some hard carries by the forwards were stopped just short of the Ayr line.

Following a series of scrums Sirens got on the scoresheet when Tamsin Tyeson crashed through a number of bodies from close range. Lisa Ritchie’s conversion slid past the post. Phaedra Snailham scored the second out wide but again the kick was missed. Both sets of forwards put in a shift in the sticky conditions but the score remained 10-0 at half-time.

With the wind behind Sirens it was not long before Claire Manson wriggled free to touch down under the posts. With a