BIRKMYRE made it back-to-back wins against a tough Wigtownshire side.
Despite being on the wrong end of some poor refereeing decisions, they fought back from 26:14 down to take the win by 31 points to 26.
The game was very even for the initial passages with neither side able to gain the upper hand. The match then appeared to turn slightly in the Kilmacolm side’s favour when the visitors saw yellow for a deliberate knock-on in the 15th minute. However, ‘Myre could not capitalise on the player advantage and in fact went a score down only four minutes later when a chip through was poorly defended, which allowed ‘Shire in for the converted score.
It didn’t take long for Birkmyre to get back level as, in the 22nd minute winger, Jonny Davidson, finished off an excellent passage of play which saw them go from one side of the pitch to the other, stretching the defence to touch down at the corner flag. David Cruickshank converted from the touchline.
Birkmyre took the lead on the 25th minute when 18-year-old debutant Archie Thomson scored his first of two tries. Having missed an opportunity to go left earlier, Birkmyre capitalised on having extra players out wide for Thomson to score in the opposite corner this time. Cruickshank again slotted over from a tight angle.
The advantage was short-lived as two minutes later Wigtownshire got one back. They were attacking inside their own half but were isolated and Birkmyre appeared to win the tackle. However, the referee saw it differently and, from the next phase, the visitors went down the pitch to score, with the Wigtownshire player clearly crawling on the ground illegally to make it over the line.
To add to Birkmyre’s frustration, they were then not awarded a penalty try for a high tackle in the process of scoring and then a second try was disallowed for being held up when the ball had in fact been grounded. None the less, Birkmyre went in at the half 14 to 12 up.
Wigtownshire then took the lead in the second half scoring a well-worked try from a lineout. Birkmyre were then reduced to 14 players shortly thereafter when Liam Nicholas was given a yellow for handling in the ruck. From the resulting penalty, ‘Shire scored from a five-metre out. Despite the fact they failed to tap the ball, the score stood.
With their backs against the wall, Birkmyre struck back immediately from the kick-off. Having won a scrum, their dominant pack won clean ball and, following a couple of phases of play, Ross Moglia scored.
Prop Louis Hoodless got another score back on the 67th minute, rumbling over from close range following a positive period of possession. Cruickshank levelled the scoring at 26 each with the conversion.
In the closing phases, Birkmyre always looked the stronger side but could not seem to make the breakthrough. This changed with three minutes remaining when Archie Thomson went over in the far-right corner for his second. The score originated from a defensive goal line drop out which ‘Myre worked back well for the try.
Birkmyre now sit fourth in the league with an away fixture next Saturday to second-placed Cambuslang.
Scorers: Tries: A Thomson (2), R Moglia, J Davidson, L Hoodless; Conversions: D Cruickshank (3)
