Birkmyre crashed out of the National Shield Cup Competition at the weekend in a defeat to league rivals Carrick by 50 points to 12. Birkmyre were leading after 20 minute and were well in contention at the half, however the match slipped away in the second period.

The opening period of play was fairly even however Carrick broke the deadlock just before the 15-minute mark. From a scrum central on the Birkmyre 22, they worked the ball wide right before coming back across the pitch to score near the left corner flag. The conversion slipped wide.
Birkmyre then took the lead on the 22nd minute. From a scrum just inside their own half, saw the ball crisply move through the hands of 9, 10 and 12 before being passed to Full Back, Paul Carruth. Paul sprinted up the centre of the pitch, weaving between tackles to score under the posts. David Cruickshank converted.

Birkmyre held the lead for about 10 minutes before Carrick scored again with a driving maul from a line out. They then increased their lead just before the half touching down under the posts this time, from another line out inside the 22.

Birkmyre felt confident at the break that they could turn the deficit around. That confidence was short lived as Carrick ran in 3 tries in the opening 20 minutes of the second period. Birkmyre got one back in the 65th minute. A cross-field kick from Ross Moglia was knocked into the try area where winger Alex McKay pounced on the ball for his first score of the season.

Carrick managed two further scores before the final whistle with the latter on the stroke of full time. Birkmyre now turn their attention to the league again with an away trip to Lomond Helensburgh this Saturday.