BIRKMYRE came within seconds of securing their second win of the season on Saturday.
Trailing home side Bishopton 19-12 at the half, they then took the lead with less than 10 minutes to go however gave up a try in the final minute to go down 24-22.
Birkmyre started well when Okan Akdeniz powered over in the first five minutes to score. The lead was short-lived. A few minutes later Bishopton won a line-out on the Birkmyre 22. Having secured the ball, they charged forward before going wide left to score near the corner. A tricky conversion went over to give the home side a two-point lead.
The Kilmacolm side took the lead again in the 20th minute. Following a few phases of possession, Birkmyre took a tap-and-go penalty on the opposition 22. The ball went to fly half David Cruickshank who saw a gap and made a valuable five-metre across the gain line. From the resulting ruck, the ball was popped to veteran Gordon Stein. With a lot still to do 10 metres out, he broke a couple of tackles to power home close to the posts for a converted try.
Five minutes later it was all square at 12-12. Having secured their own line close to the half way line, Bishopton were able to charge down the pitch thanks to some poor defensive work by the visitors. From 10 metres out, they went right and scored near the corner following a suspicious looking forward pass.
Minutes later, it was 19-12 to the home side. From a scrum on the half way line, Birkmyre defence was again found wanting allowing easy progress for Bishopton. After a few phases, they scored an all too easy try to give them the lead.
Birkmyre should have levelled the match 20 minutes into the second half. With a four-on-one overlap to the left, the call was made to release the ball. However the forwards held on to it and the opportunity was lost. It took until nearly 25 minutes into the second half before the scoreboard eventually changed. From a scrum inside their own half, Birkmyre went wide with the first phase ball. Winger Jonny Davidson kicked through and chased. The ball was bobbling and, as he went to collect it to touch down, he knocked on with the try line a foot away. From the resulting five-metre scrum, Birkmyre won a free kick. They took the tap and went left to centre Struan McCamley, who used his bulk to get over the line. Cruickshank converted to tie the match at 19 all.
With less than 10 minutes remaining, Birkmyre took the lead when David Cruickshank slotted over a penalty. They then had the opportunity to kill the game off in the last five minutes. Having won a scrum just inside the Bishopton 22, the ball was worked to the right, however a wayward miss pass was thrown straight off the pitch.
From the resulting line-out, Bishopton worked the ball down the pitch winning a couple of penalties along the way. Eventually, they secured the ball from a five-metre line-out. Having attacked the try line but been rebuffed, they fired the ball wide left for the winning score in the corner.
Birkmyre picked up a losing bonus point in defeat leaving them mid-table. Bishopton remain top with four wins from four. This Saturday Birkmyre take on Cumbernauld in the cup.
