Birkmyre 24 – 5 Helensburgh
Helensburgh 7s
Saturday 10th May 2025 – KO 2pm
Birkmyre retained their Helensburgh 7s Champions title on Saturday for the second year in a row, having previously won the tournament in May 2024. Once again, they went through the group and knockout phases undefeated to lift the trophy.
In the opening match, they found themselves up against the hosts, Helensburgh at 1pm. Birkmyre showed no mercy by thrashing them by 50 points to 5. After a break, next up was a youthful side from Glasgow Caledonian University, who had also won their first match 59-5. It looked like being a close contest; however, Birkmyre quickly went three scores up unopposed. Cally came back into it in the second half, but Birkmyre were too strong, with the score finishing 24-5.
The quarter-final saw the Kilmacolm side drawn against a Rugby Legends team made up of Helensburgh “old boys.” It was youth versus experience, and the young legs proved too quick and fit for their rivals, as Birkmyre cast them aside 40-5.
The semi-final pitted Birkmyre against the Pink Fairy Armadillos, whose players were mostly Heriot-Watt University students.
The two youthful sides went head to head, and Birkmyre were immediately on the back foot having conceded from the kick off. However, within a minute of the restart, they pulled the score back. The semi-final was very entertaining, with good skills on display, but again Birkmyre were simply too strong, winning 29-12.
It was a long day with the final kicking off at 5:50pm. This time, the opposition was Earlston Rugby Club, who had traveled from Berwickshire. The final was highly competitive and got a little heated at times, with one of the Earlston players receiving a yellow card for hitting a jumper in the air. On another day, it could easily have been a red, with Birkmyre’s Callum Moglia landing dangerously close to his neck.
Birkmyre took the lead in the final, but Earlston replied with a try of their own. The match continued in a similar vein with Birkmyre always having their noses in front. With very little time on the clock, Birkmyre led by five points. A converted try would have secured for Earlston. However, as the clock went red, they were penalised for a high tackle on Finlay Reynar, which again could easily have warranted a yellow card. No card was brandished, and Birkmyre’s David Cruickshank tapped the ball and then launched it over the stand for the win.
Birkmyre will be in 7s action again this Saturday as they travel to West of Scotland Rugby Club where they will take on Lenzie, Allan Glens and Strathclyde Uni in the group stages.
Thank you to Fiona Wallace for photographs from today’s match
