Birkmyre remain fourth after narrow defeat to Uddingston

Birkmyre 24 – 31 Uddingston
Arnold Clark West Division 2
Saturday, 28th March 2026

Birkmyre suffered a home defeat on Saturday at the hands of Uddingston. In a season that continues to prove that any one side can beat another, the visitors were able to reverse the defeat they suffered at home back in January by 31 points to 24.

The match took a while to get going in wet and blustery conditions, with play fairly even for the first 15 minutes. However, Birkmyre were seeing little of the ball and were largely camped in their own half. They also suffered an early blow, losing hooker Ross Adam to injury.

In the 18th minute, the deadlock was broken by Uddingston. From an attacking lineout 5m out, they worked the ball left and, with a simple loop and a couple of pop passes, broke through the defence for a converted try.

This score triggered a reaction from the home side, who began to get more of a foothold in the game. Thirty minutes in, they won a penalty 6m out from the Uddingston line near the left touchline. They shaped to send the ball wide right, with the initial pass going to stand-off David Cruickshank, who spotted an opportunity. He faked the pass right, then cut in between a couple of Uddingston’s less mobile forwards, who had created a dog-leg, to score and convert his own try.

Birkmyre then came close to taking the lead. However, centre Cammy Marr overran the ball and was held up over the line when presenting it back seemed like the better option.

With only two minutes left in the half, Birkmyre somewhat gifted Uddingston a further score. Having lost their own throw-in on the 22m line, the Uddingston forwards drove through, aided by quick passing and weak tackling, to score again and take a seven-point lead into the break.

Birkmyre regrouped at half-time and started the second half the better side. However, they were struggling in the scrum and lineout due to injuries. Nonetheless, six minutes into the half, Jonny Davidson scored. From a penalty 10m out in front of the posts, they drove towards the line. After a few phases, Davidson seized the opportunity to pick and go from the bottom of a ruck and dive over for the try.

Birkmyre then took the lead in the match for the first time in the 51st minute. They won a lineout on the right just inside opposition territory. The forwards and backs combined well, with Paul Carruth charging down the left wing before being tackled 5m out. Davidson then quickly popped the ball to Marr, and, with work still to do, he powered through a tackle to score. The conversion by Cruickshank provided a five-point cushion.

The lead was short-lived, as only three minutes later the visitors equalised. Having won penalty advantage from a scrum, their backs looped round in a similar move to the first half and touched down in the left corner.

Ten minutes later, Uddingston retook the lead. From a tap-and-go penalty under the posts, they drove to within inches of the line. Their scrum-half then quickly picked up the ball and dived over the ruck for the score.

With 20 minutes left, Birkmyre were far from out of it, and Marr should probably have had his second score of the match. However, he knocked on while fending off a tackle when 10m out.

With 10 minutes remaining, Uddingston extended their lead further. It was a well-worked score, going through multiple phases from their own half. In the end, they broke through and chipped the ball over the heads of the Birkmyre defenders. The bounce favoured the Lanarkshire side, who regathered to score.

Birkmyre then had another promising attack, where Cruickshank, Carruth and winger Ross McDonnell combined well. However, the move fizzled out with another knock-on.

McDonnell did, however, earn Birkmyre a try bonus point with a score close to the death. A neat and accurate cross-field kick from the middle of the park by Cruickshank placed the ball over the defenders for McDonnell to run onto and score.

Due to other results and postponements, Birkmyre remain in fourth spot, three points ahead of Irvine, who now have a game in hand.

Birkmyre now take on title-chasing Cambuslang this Saturday at Birkmyre Park.

Photo Credit: Fiona Wallace

Photo Credit: Fiona Wallace

Photo Credit: Fiona Wallace

Photo Credit: Fiona Wallace

Photo Credit: Fiona Wallace

Arnold Clark West Region League Division 2 (Men’s)