BIRKMYRE picked up their first league win of the season in a high-scoring encounter at Birkmyre Park.
Having fallen behind to an early score, the home side were quickly able to establish dominance and converted a lead of 33:17 at the half, to a full-time score of 54:29.
Birkmyre were a little slow out of the blocks. Mid Argyll capitalised after Birkmyre conceded a needless line-out 25 metres out, driving with their pack and, then under penalty advantage, powering over for the opening converted try.
The lead was short-lived. From the kick-off, Birkmyre forced a goal-line drop-out. A poor kick allowed Birkmyre to gain control of the ball and win penalty advantage. They went wide left where they had an overlap, and co-captain Ross Moglia ran down the line virtually unopposed and under the posts. David Cruickshank converted to equalise.
Alex McKay extended the lead in the 11th minute. Mid Argyll knocked on mid-field and turned over the ball. Forwards and backs then combined to gain yards to the opposition 22. After several phases, Tom McGeoch went quickly from the base of a ruck and offloaded to McKay as he was being tackled, allowing him to score from seven metres out.
In the 22nd minute, Birkmyre stretched the lead further. Another poor goal-line drop-out saw Birkmyre collect on the edge of the 22. The forwards probed initially to the left before switching direction. Louis Hoodless then popped a pass to Liam Nicholas, who broke between two defenders to score under the posts.
Mid Argyll got a score back minutes later, however, from the resulting kick off, Birkmyre scored again. An excellent kick from Cruickshank was tapped back by Moglia for Adam Hannah to collect. He burst 20 metres down the wing dragging defenders with him. From the ruck, Hoodless this time popped the ball to 18-year-old Kieran McNicol who powered through defenders from five metres out to touch down.
Ali Peacock scored for the Kilmacolm side in the 33rd minute. Full-back Paul Carruth gathered a clearance kick 10 metres inside his own half. He weaved his way through defenders before flipping the ball to Peacock 22 metres out. Peacock broke a tackle and had a clear run in under the posts. Mid Argyll got a score back in the dying minutes of the half.
Birkmyre started the second half very brightly with Moglia picking up his second score in the first minute after the restart. Birkmyre regained their kick-off and worked the ball down the middle then wide right. They came back across, stretching the defence, and Moglia darted between defenders to stretch the lead.
Mid Argyll scored twice in a five-minute period to close the difference to only 11 points and were threatening to score more. However, in the 68th minute, McNicol was passed the ball from a five-metre tap-and-go penalty and used his size to drive over the line again.
The home side put the game to bed with two minutes remaining. Having stolen the ball from an opposition line-out only five metres from their try line, they quickly stretched the defence again, carrying across the width of the pitch. A couple of rucks dragged in the defence before the ball was released left where another overlap had formed and Alex Glass was able to rumble over from a few metres out.
The win sees Birkmyre sitting fifth in the league and they make the short trip this Saturday to face top-of-the-table Bishopton in the local derby.
Scorers:- Tries: R Moglia (2), K McNicol (2), A Peacock, A Glass, L Nicholas, A McKay. Conversions: D Cruickshank (7)
