BIRKMYRE secured their first victory of 2024 with a convincing 31-7 win away to Shawlands. 

The match started very competitively with both teams evenly balanced, however, the home side had a slight wind advantage and used that to control field position, which paid off when they won a penalty after five minutes. The resultant kick went wide but Shawlands continued press and were eventually rewarded after 16 minutes with a converted try.

This proved to be the wake-up call Birkmyre needed as with in three minutes of going behind the scores were tied.

Birkmyre won a penalty from the kick off and took a quick tap and go. The forwards recycled the ball a few times before scrum half Jamie Haran faked a pass from the base of the ruck and forced his way over the line from short distance. David Cruickshank converted.

The visitors increased their lead on 30 minutes from a lineout five metres from the opposition try line. Hooker, and player of the match, Ross Adam, recovered a loose ball. He then took on the opposition defenders single-handed to score a very impressive individual try. 

Birkmyre pressed their advantage in the second half and less than five minutes after the interval, Cammy Marr recovered a clearance kick in his own half and powered across the halfway line. A few phases of play followed before the ball made it into the hands of skipper Ross Moglia, who broke a couple of tackles to run in under the posts for a converted try from 30 metres out.

The next score fell to Ross McDonnell. Cruickshank gathered a loose pass on the opposition 22, spotted a gap out wide and placed a perfect cross field kick towards the try line. McDonnell sprinted forward and caught the ball on the bounce to score in the corner.

The final score fell to centre James Toal. From a scrum five metres out, Moglia drew in the defenders and popped a simple pass to Toal who ran a great line to power his way over. Cruickshank duly added the conversion.

Birkmyre successfully shut out Shawlands in the second half, even when they were down to 14 men with McDonnell seeing yellow for a deliberate knock on with eight minutes left.

The win keeps Birkmyre in 2nd spot in the league, but crucially with two games in hand over leaders Irvine. Victories for the Kilmacolm side in both outstanding fixtures would see them swap places.