Title now in touching distance
LANARK CLYDESDALE ........... 12 BIRKMYRE .............................. 74
BIRKMYRE took another massive step forward towards a league title on Saturday with a demolition of Lanark Clydesdale by 74 points to 12. In a similar vein to their last match, the game was all but over a er 15 minutes with the Kilmacolm side racing to a 24-point lead, which was then was extended to 48 points at the half.
It only took five minutes for Birkmyre scrum half Tom McGeoch to opening the scoring, darting over from short distance. Lewis Higgins, on kicking duties in the absence of David Cruickshank, slotted over the conversion.
That lead was quickly extended by Gordon Stein. Taking a quick tap penalty, he caught the home defence napping to power through a few tackles and run in from 25m out. Higgins then scored the first of his two tries quickly followed by a score from winger Jamie Haran. Higgins then scored his second before Ali Peacock and Ross McDonnell added to the tally.
The half was rounded o by a great individual score by skipper Ross Moglia a minute before the whistle. Lanark Clydesdale were attacking and had made it into the Birkmyre 22 for the first time. However, before they could convert what was a promising attack, Moglia intercepted a pass and was able to run the length of the pitch unopposed to score under the posts.
The second half was a more balanced aair, and it took 15 minutes before the scoreboard ticked over when the home side ran in for their first score. However, only two minutes later, Ali Peacock got one back with a great solo run from 40m out. Player/coach Craig Williams, taking over kicking duties, slotted the conversion.
Finlay Rayner then scored his first try for Birkmyre. The ball was worked out to the le wing and Raynor showed his explosive pace to run in for his score. A few minutes later, Lanark Clydesdale scored their second try and on the 75th minute, Harris McFie then scored his first try of the season for the bears, fending o a tackler to score at the corner flag.
The scoring was finished o in the 77th minute when Robbie Espie ran in for his 10th try of the season. Playing in the centre rather than the back row, he capitalised on a positive phase of play to round the game o.
The victory means that a bonus point win against Lochaber in the final league fixture of the season at home on May 4 will see Birkmyre li the league title.
SCORERS
Tries: T McGeoch, L Higgins (2), G Stein, J Haran, A Peacock (2), R McDonnell, F Rayner, H McFie, R Espie, R Moglia. Conversions: L Higgins (4), C Williams (3)
him pick out a brilliant pass to free Oakley in behind on the left-hand side and running into the box, where he showed a brilliant bit of finesse to pass the ball, Jimmy Greaves style, beyond Boruc and into the bottomright corner.
McKenna had been an unwelcome thorn in the side of Morton over the past five years – in fact, he was Arbroath’s highest scorer against the Cappielow side in that spell. So it was of no surprise that he’d sign off his Championship tenure with a customary strike for the Angus side, even if it was only from a few yards out. Lyon’s arrowed ball in behind Broadfoot and Waters saw the former Killie duo eating Leighton McIntosh’s dust as he raced on to the pass and bared down on the byline.
This saw the Ton defence split and he had the simple task of cutting back for McKenna who was in support and in no man’s land and he made no mistake in finishing off a well-worked move to make the final 20 minutes a tad more nervy. But a sea of changes would kill any tempo that the home side were beginning to gather. Worryingly, this saw Ton lose key men in the form of Jack Baird and Blues who both suffered knocks.
This didn’t mean that there would be no more chances in the game, though, as Jai Quitongo perhaps squandered what would be his best chance to net his first goal of the season, with less than three games to play. Oakley looked to turn from scorer to provider as he played an eye-of-the-needle in behind Lyon for Quitongo to race on to down the left and stare down the eyes of Boruc.
He looked to replicate the effort of Oakley 20 minutes or so earlier as he had the angle on his side to look to try to curl the ball into the far corner. But he got his connection all wrong as he fired the ball towards the near post and that allowed the Polish stopper to hook the ball clear with a big block.
Ton would hold on for win number 12 of the season and thus get themselves back up to fifth in the table. It means that Championship football remains in Inverclyde for an eighth consecutive season as the Cappielow side now look to ensure they push themselves into as comfortable a position as possible heading into next season.
Next up for Imrie’s men is the visit of a title-chasing Raith Rovers, who need a win and a favour from elsewhere if they’re to be in with a shout on the final day, despite all of their progress during the season.