Match Report: Wigtownshire 36 – 19 Birkmyre

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Wigtownshire 36 – 19 Birkmyre
Arnold Clark West Division 2
Saturday, 15th February 2025 – KO 2pm

An understrength Birkmyre side fell to an away defeat at the weekend against a physical Wigtownshire team. The match was competitive throughout, however the Stranraer based side were too strong in the end.

The match started positively for the visitors. Wigtownshire were attacking positively and had just reached the Birkmyre 22. Anticipating their next move, winger Ross McDonnell, came off his line quickly and intercepted a loose pass and then went fully 80m untouched to score the opening try.

Birkmyre held the lead for close to 15 minutes before the home side took the lead with a converted try of their own. From a line out 5m out they powered over the whitewash after a couple of phases. They then extended their lead further twice in the first half on the 23rd and 27th minutes. On both occasions, their size and power proved too much for the Birkmyre defence.

Birkmyre did however get a score back before half time. Following a few minutes of sustained pressure close to the try line, the ball went through the hands of the backs. Lewis Higgins popped a pass to full back, Paul Carruth, who up against two tacklers, managed to wriggle and power over for a score. Higgins converted.

At 19-12 down at the half, Birkmyre were well in the match and confident they could turn the deficit around. However, two scores for the home side in the first 15 minutes was making it look like being an uphill battle.

However, on the 62nd minute, Wigtownshire were reduced to 14 men due to a yellow card. This then gave the Kilmacolm side some momentum which eventually paid off with a little over 5 minutes remaining. The home side had won a scrum on the edge of their own 22. Their 9 collected the ball at the rear of the scrum. However, some quick thinking from Birkmyre’s scrum half, Tom McGeoch, saw him steal the ball and dive over the line in flamboyant fashion for what would be a consolation score.

Wigtownshire did however have the last say in the match scoring their 6th try in the dying minutes to make the final score 36-19.

Birkmyre next take on Lomond Helensburgh this Saturday at Birkmyre Park in Kilmacolm. Kick-off is 2pm.

Scorers:- Tries – P Carruth, R McDonnell, T McGeoch: Conversions: L Higgins (2)

Thank you to Fiona Wallace for photographs from Saturday’s match.

Results for Saturday 8th February 2025 in Division Two: