A top 4 clash at home was the challenge with the senior team welcoming the joint team of Lomond / Helensburgh RFC to Birkmyre Park. Both teams looking for vital wins to stay in the promotion battle.

Birkmyre wanted to prove many things this week and started in the best way possible, by scoring the first try within 6 minutes of kick off. After winning a penalty 5 meters from the line, Birkmyre decided to take a quick tap with the forwards trucking up and Craig Milligan ended up over the line for the score. Cruickshank added the extras with a conversion (7-0)

Birkmyre was back in the opposition 22 not long after, with a scrum dead centre of the pitch. A very basic but effective play and hard running saw try machine centre Cameron Marr scoring once again. Cruickshank slotted the conversion (14-0)

Lomond / Helensburgh tried to play a running game but high pressing from Birkmyre, caused a handling error. After a few phases, the ball ended up to Marr's hands again and he cruised through the defence to score in the corner. Missed conversion (19-0)

It was a class performance in the first half by the "polar bears" but after making 1 or 2 errors, time was running out. Birkmyre then won a penalty & Cruickshank opted to take 3 points which he slotted to make it 22-0 at the half.

Second half saw the return of Max Duffy coming back from injury and getting some game time. However the opposition had other plans and in the first 20 mins they managed to get two tries and made it 22-12.

However, on 66 mins Birkmyre manage to score their 4th and bonus point try with some crafty footwork and ball skills. Even the Scotland team would be impressed with the display which saw Paul Carruth scored. Cruickshank added extras (29-12)

Shortly after, Lomond / Helensburgh were back in the Birkmyre 22 pushing hard hard to get back into the game only for it to be snatched away by captain Ross Moglia. He made a brilliant interception and ran more or less the full length of the park to score. Conversion again by Cruickshank (36-12)

The opposition had the final word as they scored their 3rd try (with conversion) to end the game 36-19 in the dying seconds of the match.

Man of the Match was scrum half Mark Armstrong, stealing back so much ball and possession with his rucking.

Top of the table clash next week as 2nd place Birkmyre travel to 1st place Cumbernauld.

Report by Craig Williams