Birkmyre hit 55 points in home win over Wigtownshire

Birkmyre blew away their opponents Wigtownshire on Saturday with a statement win by 55 points to 29. Despite going 5-0 down in the first minute, the Kilmacolm side rallied quickly, scoring a succession of tries to largely put the game beyond their opponents by half-time.

Birkmyre conceded in the first minute of the game, having fumbled the kick-off. Wigtownshire, having then won a penalty 10m out, drove with their forwards through a few phases to score.

However, 10 minutes in, Birkmyre took the lead with a converted try. 18-year-old Kieran McNicol powered over from close distance, with David Cruickshank slotting over the conversion.

Five minutes later, the home side extended their lead. From a scrum 15m out to the right, they moved the ball to the left wing before coming back across the pitch. Having stretched the defence, Liam Nicholas found space and broke a couple of tackles to run in from 10m out.

Next up was Jonny Davidson with the first of his four tries. Wigtownshire were attacking down the right; however, Ross Moglia intercepted a pass. Charging down the pitch, he was eventually tackled 40m out. He released the ball and Cruickshank and Alex McKay continued the attack into the opposition 22.

The defence were stretched and Moglia executed a cross-field kick. The ball bounced perfectly and Davidson grabbed it 5m out to dive over untouched.

In the 25th minute, Davidson scored his second. Having received the ball on the right wing, he chipped through as defenders were closing in. He then used his pace to outrun them, collect the ball and dive over in an almost identical spot.

Wigtownshire got a try back before Tom McGeoch finished off a positive phase of play for his only score of the day, jinking in from 10m out under the posts. The conversion was straightforward and Birkmyre went in at half-time 33-12 up.

The second period started positively for “The Myre”. Having won a penalty from the kick-off, they charged ahead with their forwards. Within a few phases, they were inches from the try line. Pressure told and the ball was popped to Robbie Espie, who dived in to touch down on the whitewash.

At 40-12, the game was largely dead, but Wigtownshire were still showing fight and scored the next try of the match.

However, 55 minutes in, Davidson scored his third. Having recovered a clearance kick, Topping and McKay combined to secure possession. The ball was quickly moved to the right wing, where Davidson collected and sprinted down the sideline from 25m out to score once again in the corner.

Wigtownshire replied again with 20 minutes left before Davidson completed his scoring exploits. Yet again, he was found lurking on the right wing, but this time only had to receive a pop pass and go in from 5m out.

The scoring dried up once the visitors had secured their final try with 15 minutes left. Birkmyre did come close in the 70th minute but were held up over the line.

The final score then fell to Cruickshank, who slotted over a penalty with five minutes left to finish things off.

Birkmyre climb to fourth in the table but are only two points off second spot. They take on Uddingston this Saturday at Bothwell Castle Policies, who currently sit in seventh.