IRVINE secured their second successive away draw at North Inch to keep up their unbeaten run in BT National Three.

The draw was just reward for another never-say-die performance from the visitors, who never led but hung in until the end – even outscoring the hosts by three tries to two through Andrew Lang, Kevin Lang and Grant McGibbon.

Lang’s try was his eighth of the season, matching his tally for last season with less than half the current term completed.

Lincoln Ormsby got the hosts on the board with a penalty, with man-ofthe-match Blair Jardine scoring the rest of the visitors’ points.

The two now have identical kicking records – 12 conversions and five penalties apiece – with Ormsby having scored a try more.

Shire came flying out of the traps, and forced an early penalty which number eight Duncan Clow goaled to edge the hosts in front.

After Ormsby had squared the match up in seven minutes, the visitors’ chances were dealt a blow when prop David Kirkwood was sin-binned for illegal use of the boot.

Clow kicked the penalty to restore the hosts’ lead.

Then Clow scored another penalty for a 9-3 advantage, before the game was blown open just before the half hour.

Irvine monopolised possession from the restart and Andrew Lang crossed on the right to crown a patient spell of try line pressure.

Jardine missed the chance to put the visitors in front with the conversion however, and the hosts ruthlessly punished this from kick-off, when they stole Irvine’s lineout and worked the ball to centre James Wade, who arrowed through the defence and Clow converted.

Irvine had a let-off four minutes into the second half when Shire flyhalf Andy Whitelaw tried to send centre Gus Whittle away for a try, only for referee Ian Kenny to rule obstruction on the play.

The two sides again exchanged tries as the hour approached.

First Lang rounded off another patient siege to the Shire line – Jardine converting this time to reduce the deficit to a single point – before the hosts forced a penalty from the kick-off which they opted to run, with prop Alex Hatzis claiming the touchdown.

Clow’s conversion put the hosts 23-15 ahead, but Irvine began forcing more and more penalties as time went on – leading some visiting supporters to wonder why the referee failed to produce a yellow card – and Jardine kicked one from a central position to get Irvine back within striking distance 10 minutes from time.

And the visitors’ dominance finally turned into points in injury-time, when McGibbon went over in the corner to level after the Irvine pack had mauled in to just short of the line.

Jardine could have won it with the conversion, but the angle was against him.

Late on Shire recovered the ball from the kick-off and winger Mat Rae forced his way over, but he was ruled held up and the game ended in stalemate.

Irvine head coach Jim Barrie said: “There was some fantastic strength of character shown by the lads to level at 23-23 despite suffering a glut of injuries during the match. Having lost our 10 at half time, and both locks and fullback in the third quarter, we dug deep to overturn an eight-point deficit with some direct running. Club physio John Cameron will be a busy man this week to try and get our walking wounded available for selection for our away game at West of Scotland before the international break.” IRVINE: I Kerr; C Lang, N McMillan, K Lang, N Murray; L Ormsby, G McGibbon; D Kirkwood, M Kirk (capt), C Mackie, A Thomson, T McHarg, A Lang, A Maxwell, B Jardine. Replacements: E Callaghan, B Auld, V Meredith.

* THERE was to be no such happy ending for Marress, who were edged out 28-27 at home to Marr despite leading at half-time.

Steven Paton, Daryl Moffat and captain James Cooney all crossed for tries, with Kris Hobson and Craig Williams sharing the kicking duties.

They now have a three-week break from competitive rugby before travelling to GHK, while Irvine travel to play West of Scotland in their own last game before the international For the full story see this week's Ardrossan and Saltcoats Herald.