Birkmyre settle for losing bonus point after Irvine defeat

The Bears travelled to Marress with a reduced squad of only 17 players due to unavailability and late call offs, and Irvine had the balance of play for the first 10 minutes and made this count with a score five metres from the touchline 10 minutes in. Kicking into the wind, the conversion was missed.

Ten minutes later, the scores were level; Birkmyre had fought hard into the opposition 22 and were threatening their goal line, and having won a penalty five metres out, they opted for a 'tap and go' which saw second row Owen Nicolas power over in the corner for his first try of the season.

Birkmyre had to settle for a losing bonus point after their 18-17 defeat to Irvine. (Image: Fiona Wallace)

The visitors took the lead on the 24th minute with a fine score that began with defence on their own goal-line; an excellent clearance kick saw them win a penalty 10 metres inside the Irvine half, and the Kilmacolm side took it quickly with Ali Peacock making vital yard crossing the 22.

As he was tackled, he popped the ball to captain for the day, Robbie Espie, to run in under the post unopposed.

Jonny Davidson added the conversion, but Irvine replied quickly to take the half-time score to 12-10 in Birkmyre's favour.

Irvine took the lead shortly after the restart; having won a penalty in front of the posts, they elected to kick to secure the three points.

Birkmyre were edged out in a nail-biting clash away to Irvine. (Image: Fiona Wallace)Birkmyre then thought they had taken the lead when they took a quick line out and ran down the line unopposed, but the referee brought play back as the visitors had not used the same ball to take the quick lineout.

It took until the 64th minute for Irvine to extend their lead; from a scrum 30 metres out on the right, they worked the ball across the field to score what would be their final points.

With Irvine having missed their conversion, Birkmyre knew that a converted try would take the points back to Inverclyde, and confidence was high with more than 15 minutes remaining.

Three tries weren't quite enough for Birkmyre at Marress. (Image: Fiona Wallace) For the next six minutes or so, the match seemed to be drifting away from the visitors; Irvine were camped in the opposition half, and Birkmyre were not getting the rub of the green of refereeing decisions, though they managed to weather the storm with no points conceded.

With only four minutes left, Birkmyre took their opportunity: having stolen a lineout on their own 22, the ball went from right to left and into the hands of winger Struan McCamley, who powered from his own 22 into the opposition half.

Just before he was tackled, he smartly offloaded to Paul Carruth, who was running in support, and he continued the great run to score just as he was being tackled.

Birkmyre lie seventh in West Division 2 after Saturday's defeat. (Image: Fiona Wallace)

A successful conversion would see Birkmyre take the lead, but kick was a very difficult one, into the wind from wide out, and the ball drifted to the right of the posts.

With only two minutes left, Irvine kicked deep into Birkmyre territory and there simply was not enough time left of the clock to make it up the pitch to score again, despite a late Irvine yellow card.

The defeat leaves Birkmyre seventh in the league table with six points, one spot below Irvine on eight, ahead of a tough match at home to early leaders Strathendrick on September 21.