Birkmyre 33 – 52 Queens University (Charlotte, North Carolina)
Friendly
Sunday 9th March 2025 – KO 1pm
With league action suspended due to the international window, Birkmyre took the opportunity to host a touring side from Queens University, Charlotte, North Carolina on Sunday in a highly competitive friendly. It was a high scoring affair with the tourists coming out on top 52 points to 33.
Birkmyre were up against it from the off. The Queens side were big and athletic and posed significant threats all over the pitch. As a result, the Kilmacolm side found themselves 19-0 down after 22 minutes of play.
The tide began to turn on the 30th minute. Having enjoyed a period of possession in the Queens half Birkmyre drove towards the try line where prop, Louis Hoodless was on hand to stretch out and touch down close to the posts. David Cruickshank converted.
Only minutes later, the home side doubled their tally with one of the scores of the day. Vice-Captain, Paul Carruth, collected a clearance kick in his own half. He then weaved his way down the centre of the pitch, breaking five tackles on route to scoring under the posts. Queens then picked up a further converted score making it 14-26 at the half.
The first 40 minutes had not been short of tries or entertainment and the second half didn’t disappoint either. Birkmyre lost a score in the first 5 minutes but then the comeback was on again.
Within the space of 13 minutes, Birkmyre crossed the whitewash three times. First was Calum Moglia. Having won a penalty 5m out, they moved the ball quickly to centre Moglia who spotted a gap in the defence to power over.
Tom McGeoch was next. Having turned Queens ball over on the edge of the opposition 22, the forwards and backs combined to edge towards the try line. The ball then went wide and Robbie Espie went very close, but the ball was fumbled backwards. Quick thinking McGeoch pounced on it as the defence hesitated to dive in at the corner.
Moglia then got his second of the day. From another 5m penalty the forwards carried through the first phase of play, the ball then came back to Moglia who again from close range, used his strength and power to get over the line. The conversion by Cruickshank put Birkmyre in the lead 33-31.
The match was far from over with 15 minutes remaining. The game however turned away from the host when Queens scored their 6th try on 70 minutes. With their tails up they then crossed the line a further twice before the final whistle to take the match 52-33.
There is no league fixture this weekend due to the final round of 6 Nations matches with Birkmyre taking a touring party of 70 plus to Paris for the event, the club have a game scheduled for Friday evening against a French Barbarian side at Stade Claude Luboz.
Thank you to Fiona Wallace for photographs from Saturday’s match
