TEN OUT OF TEN TriesgaloreasBirkyrunriot
Birkmyre put in one of their best performances of the season as they thrashed visitors Moffat 68-7.
Scoring 10 tries in the process, the game was all but over after just 15 minutes with the home side leading 26-0.
The first of the tries came after only two minutes. Birkmyre turned over opposition possession on the edge of their 22-metre line and Ross McDonnell was able to pounce in at the corner flag.
David Cruickshank narrowly missed the conversion, however, he would go on to convert all nine remaining kicks as the match progressed.
Next on the board was scrum-half Jamie Haran. He twisted and jinked his way through a couple of tackles before scoring close to the flag again.
Paul Carruth then extended the lead with the first of his two tries more or less from the kick-off. Skipper Ross Moglia made yards from his own half before feeding the ball to Carruth just inside opposition territory.
He stretched his legs to outrun the defenders, scoring under the posts.
Robbie Espie’s try in the 15th minute more or less put the match beyond Moffat. Birkmyre secured the ball from a loose opposition lineout.
Ali Peacock drove well into the opposition 22 and, after a couple of rucks, Espie was on hand to pick and go from 5m out for the fourth try of the game.
Before the break, Birkmyre secured three more scores. Moglia managed to touch down twice and the returning Scott Ritchie used his power and bullied his way over for his only score and made it 47-0 at the half.
Moffat upped their game in the second half although this did not stop the scoring.
In the 55th minute, McDonnell collected the ball out wide, broke a tackle and ran in from 10m out.
Carruth then scored his second with an excellent run and a dive at the corner flag as he was being tackled.
Moffat then scored their only try with some powerful forward play before Alex McKay rounded off the victory just before the 80 minutes were up, with his first score for the club.
Collecting the ball on the wing, he was able to use his speed to run in from 10m out and dived over to touch the ball down just as the defenders converged.
The win returns Birkmyre to second place in the table — 11 points behind leaders Irvine.
Birkmyre do have three games in hand and victories in all four of their final matches would see them secure top spot — assuming at least one bonus point is gained along the way.
A month’s worth of games begins this Saturday at home to Lochaber before Glasgow University Medics visit on Saturday, April 13.
Birkmyre finish with two away games at Lanark & Clydesdale on Saturday, April 20 and GU Medics on Saturday, April 27.