BIRKMYRE were defeated in the cup at the weekend, 39 points to 24, by Dalziel who play a division above the Kilmacolm side.
It was far closer than the final score would suggest with Birkmyre leading 24-22 after 58 minutes. However, the home side scored three late tries to seal the victory.
Both sides started brightly. Birkmyre capitalised from the initial kick-off when a Dalziel player knocked on. From the resulting scrum, Michael McGeoch was on hand to pick up the loose ball and break through for the converted score. However, only two minutes later, Dalziel scored one of their own making it 5-7 after only five minutes.
The Lanarkshire side gradually took control but had Birkmyre to thank for their next two scores. Firstly, Lewis Higgins threw a loose pass in the 12th minute that was intercepted 45 metres out, and the Dalziel centre ran in unopposed under the posts to score. Then some poor decision-making and passing near their goal line cost Birkmyre a further try on the 20th minute.
Birkmyre were far from out of it and got one back on the 30th minute. Following an attacking phase from the forwards, the ball was released, and against the odds, McGeogh broke tackles from seven metres out to bring the score to 19-12 where it remained until the half.
Higgins made amends for his first half blunder three minutes into the second period. Having won a penalty 10 metres inside Birkmyre’s half, he took a quick tap-and-go which caught the defence off guard. He dummied the first and second lines of defence before outsprinting his opponents to dive in under the posts. He converted his own try to tie the scores.
Birkmyre took the lead in the 55th minute through centre Cammy Marr. From a Dalziel goal line drop-out, the ball was worked to Marr 40 metres out. Running past defenders and outpowering three players grappling with him, he stretched to get the ball down on the line. Two minutes later, Dalziel closed the gap to two points, electing to kick a penalty in front of the posts.
At this point, the match could have gone either way. However, the home side got the upper hand in the latter stages. They scored firstly in the 62nd minute to take a three-point lead and then twice more in the last eight minutes as Birkmyre pushed to get back on level terms.
Birkmyre are next in action against Uddingston in the league on Saturday 4 October at Birkmyre Park, Kilmacolm.
Scorers:- Tries: M McGeogh (2), L Higgins, C Marr; Conversion: L Higgins (2)
