BIRKMYRE got back to winning ways with a hard-fought victory against Cumbernauld by 27 points to 14.
From 17 nil up at the half, they saw the game out with a second half try and penalty despite resistance from the visitors.
The day did not start well for the Kilmacolm side. Four players from the starting XV called off. Three were trapped away from home because of the storms and one was called into work for a similar reason. Despite the challenges, replacements were drafted in and the squad reshuffled.
Birkmyre couldn’t have got off to a better start crossing the whitewash in a little over a minute. From a clearance kick,they quickly worked the ball back up the pitch. A great slip pass from stand-in 10 Adam Hannah on the 22 to flanker Ali Peacock saw him run in to open the scoring from 15 metres out. Hannah slotted over the conversion.
Birkmyre extended their lead to 12 points 10 minutes later. From a clearance kick, the Cumbernauld full back spilt the ball which was collected by Hannah. He popped a pass to Robbie Espie who gained a further 20 metres before being tackled. With pressure mounting and the defence in disarray, skipper Ross Moglia went over from seven metres out.
The final try of the first period went to prop James Halpin. Lewis Higgins recovered a clearance kick, then Paul Carruth took the ball well into opposition territory. ‘Halps’ then cut a great line down the side of a ruck, having received the ball from Higgins, to run in from 25 metres out.
Birkmyre started the second half sluggishly and paid the price for some poor play allowing Cumbernauld to score their first try of the match from a fiv- metre scrum. A no 8 “pick & go” set up the score off the next phase.
For the next 20 minutes, the game was fairly evenly matched. However, on the 65th minute, Birkmyre extended their lead. From a scrum wide left, they worked the ball across the pitch. Ross Moglia then kicked a grubber through from 22 metres out and Hannah beat the defender by inches to land on the loose ball in the try area. Hannah then extended the lead further five minutes later with a penalty from close on 40 metres out.
Cumbernauld did not give up and a minute from full-time they were rewarded with a further try, again from a five-metre scrum. Having won a penalty from the set-piece, they worked the ball left and eventually powered over for a converted score.
The victory consolidates Birkmyre’s fifth place in the league by five points, and a far superior points difference over Uddingston in sixth place. With a break now because of international matches, their next fixture is on 15 February at home to Lomond Helensburgh.
