BIRKMYRE kept their title hopes on track with a convincing 62-15 victory over Shawlands.
The Kilmacolm side ran in nine tries from eight different scorers as they closed the gap at the top of the league.
The match nearly did not go ahead because of heavy rain during the week. However, a last-minute change of venue to the all-weather surface at Clydebank Rugby Club, allowed the game to proceed.
It was Shawlands who scored first. From a well worked line-out, their forwards broke away for a score in the corner after just five minutes. Birkmyre responded quickly. From open play, stand-off David Cruickshank, chipped the defensive line at the halfway mark. He ran on to collect his kick and then popped a pass to Ali Peacock, who ran in from 40 metres out to score under the post. Cruickshank converted.
Next to score was Michael McGeoch. Running powerfully at 13, he weaved his way through the defence on 10 minutes for another score close to the posts. Cruickshank added the conversion and then five minutes later, he slotted over a penalty to take the score to 17-5.
From then on, there was no looking back. Captain Ross Moglia and full back Paul Carruth both scored excellent tries in the first half and McGeoch also scored his second with an equally impressive run, leaving the home side leading by 33 points at the half, and a bonus point secured.
Shawlands were first on the board in the second half with another score near the corner flag. However, just as in the first half, Birkmyre replied almost immediately when Ross McDonnell touched down. McGeoch broke a few tackles as he closed in on the try line and popped a pass to McDonnell. He was tackled high on the line but managed to get the ball down for the score.
Robbie Espie was next up on 58 minutes. Shawlands had won a scrum on their own five-metre line. The ball however, slipped out the back and Espie was quick to capitalise on the error to score from short distance.
Quinn Murphy extended the lead on 62 minutes with a characteristically powerful run from 30 metres out and then the Birkmyre scoring was complete two minutes later. This time an aggressive run from Peacock saw him finally tackled 10 metres out. He slipped a pass to Jamie Haran who was running in support. Haran was himself tackled a couple of metres short of the line but had the strength to scramble over.
Shawlands scored a consolation try in the final 10 minutes but not before being reduced to 14 men, with one of their Centres seeing red for an off-the-ball incident.
Birkmyre remain in contention for the league title. They do however need to win all remaining five matches and pick up some bonus points along the way, assuming the teams above them do not slip up.
Scorers:- Tries – M McGeoch (2), R Moglia, R Espie, J Haran, P Carruth, R McDonnell, Q Murphy, A Peacock. Penalties – D Cruickshank. Conversions – D Cruickshank (7)
