Birkmyre roar into cup semi-finals with storming home win

BIRKMYRE strolled into the Bowl Cup semi-finals with a one-sided win over Mid Argyll on Saturday - running in a total of seven converted tries. 

The home side were on the ascendancy more or less from the off, and from an attacking scrum ten metres out, the ball was passed to captain Ross Moglia who broke a number of tackles to score. David Cruickshank converted the extra points. 

Birkmyre doubled their lead in  the 15th minute. Moglia took a quick lineout just over the halfway line which caught the opposition sleeping, and the ball was fed out to the opposite wing were Alex MacKay placed a great kick forward into space. Liam Nicholas followed up with a chase to collect the ball and run in for the converted try.

It only took until the 20th minute for the third try to arrive. Mid Argyll took a goal line drop out which was collected by Paul Carruth, who set up a ruck. Robbie Espie then picked the ball and drove to the try line from 22 metres out.

In the 28th minute Mid Argyll were attacking well inside the Birkmyre 22, however, Moglia intercepted a pass and then ran a full 75 metres to score his second try unopposed under the posts.

The match was all but over by the 36th minute. Birkmyre won a penalty ten metres out, which was taken quickly. The ball made it across field to Ross Adam, who twisted and turned to score from five metres out.

It took only three minutes of the second half for Birkmyre to be on the scoresheet again. From a scrum on the 22-metre line, Tom McGeoch went blind and chipped the ball towards the try line. The ball bounced kindly and took out two defenders allowing McGeoch to recapture the ball and score.

The visitors then secured their only score of the game. From a line out they passed out wide and their centre powered home from 20 metres out.

Birkmyre’s final try came on the 65th minute. Robbie Espie recovered a knock-on 20 metres out and kicked through and chased. The Mid Argyll defence appeared to have it covered, however, their full-back spilled the ball and Espie pounced on the error.

The final score of the match went to David Cruickshank who slotted over a penalty to maintain his 100% kicking record for the day in the 74th minute.

The win will see Birkmyre travel to Irvine on March 2 for the semi-final.

Scorers:- Tries – Ross Moglia (2), Robbie Espie (2), Ross Adam, Liam Nicholas, Tom McGeoch – Conversions – David Cruickshank (7) – Penalties – David Cruickshank (1)