Renfrewshire News, sports and events

Renfrewshire born and bread

Birkmyre set for league opener in Cumbernauld after 118-point thriller in final pre-season friendly

Stuart Cruickshank
Stuart Cruickshank
🗓 19/08/2025

Lomond Helensburgh 66 – 52 Birkmyre 
Venue: Ardencaple, Helensburgh 
Date: Saturday, 16th August 2025
Kick-off: 2:00pm
Third and final pre-season friendly

Defences were posted missing when Birkmyre took on Lomond Helensburgh in their final pre-season friendly. A total of 118 points were scored, with Helensburgh claiming the victory 66 points to 52.

Playing at home, Helensburgh took the lead after just two minutes. However, this was immediately cancelled out when Birkmyre replied to make it 7–7 through Lewis Higgins, who converted his own try.

Helensburgh then took the upper hand, running in a succession of scores during the first half to take the scoreline to 42–7 after 33 minutes. The visitors were missing too many tackles and simply made it too easy for a stronger-than-normal Helensburgh side to take advantage. However, Birkmyre made some headway into the deficit before half time. In the 35th minute, Birkmyre intercepted a promising attack while defending their own 22. Finlay Rayner then went the full 80m to score.

Then, from the kick-off, stand-in skipper Ross Moglia went from the halfway line down the pitch to touch down under the posts, making it 42–21 at the half.

In the second period, Birkmyre found a better defensive shape but were still first to concede, only two minutes into the half. However, a minute later Birkmyre scored the try of the match through Chris Vize. Having won a penalty in their own 22, Birkmyre took a quick “tap & go” and the forwards combined to work the ball to the edge of the opposition 22. They then moved the ball infield where it landed in the hands of Vize, who skipped past two players to score.

Helensburgh then scored again before Moglia picked up a pair of tries to complete his hat-trick for the day. Chris Taylor then clawed another score back, stealing a line-out to nip in at the corner flag. At 54–45 with 13 minutes left on the clock, it was still anyone’s game. In the end, both sides managed one try each, with Finlay Rayner scoring the final one for Birkmyre two minutes from time.

League action commences this Saturday when Birkmyre travel to Cumbernauld for their opener.

Scorers:- Tries: R Moglia (3), F Rayner (2), L Higgins, C Vize, C Taylor; Conversion: L Higgins (6)

Photos by Fiona Wallace

Scoring summery:

Time Scorer Score Event Type
2’ Lomond Helensburgh 5–0 Try
3’ Lomond Helensburgh 7–0 Conversion
4’ Lewis Higgins (Birkmyre) 7–5 Try
5’ Lewis Higgins (Birkmyre) 7–7 Conversion
9’ Lomond Helensburgh 12–7 Try
10’ Lomond Helensburgh 14–7 Conversion
15’ Lomond Helensburgh 19–7 Try
16’ Lomond Helensburgh 21–7 Conversion
20’ Lomond Helensburgh 26–7 Try
21’ Lomond Helensburgh 28–7 Conversion
30’ Lomond Helensburgh 33–7 Try
31’ Lomond Helensburgh 35–7 Conversion
32’ Lomond Helensburgh 40–7 Try
33’ Lomond Helensburgh 42–7 Conversion
35’ Finlay Rayner (Birkmyre) 42–12 Try
36’ Lewis Higgins (Birkmyre) 42–14 Conversion
37’ Ross Moglia (Birkmyre) 42–19 Try
37’ Lewis Higgins (Birkmyre) 42–21 Conversion
42’ Lomond Helensburgh 47–21 Try
42’ — 47–21 Missed Conversion
44’ Chris Vize (Birkmyre) 47–26 Try
45’ Lewis Higgins (Birkmyre) 47–28 Conversion
47’ Lomond Helensburgh 52–28 Try
48’ Lomond Helensburgh 54–28 Conversion
57’ Ross Moglia (Birkmyre) 54–33 Try
58’ Lewis Higgins (Birkmyre) 54–35 Conversion
63’ Ross Moglia (Birkmyre) 54–40 Try
64’ — 54–40 Missed Conversion
67’ Christopher Taylor (Birkmyre) 54–45 Try
68’ — 54–45 Missed Conversion
70’ Lomond Helensburgh 59–45 Try
71’ — 59–45 Missed Conversion
76’ Lomond Helensburgh 64–45 Try
76’ Lomond Helensburgh 66–45 Conversion
77’ Finlay Rayner (Birkmyre) 66–50 Try
78’ Lewis Higgins (Birkmyre) 66–52 Conversion

Birkmyre 1st XV Squad

Starting XV

  • Ross Adam – Loose-head Prop

  • Alexander Glass – Hooker

  • James Halpin – Tight-head Prop

  • Lee Rodger – Second Row

  • Blair Robertson – Second Row

  • Jason Leitch – Blindside Flanker

  • Christopher Taylor – Openside Flanker

  • Alasdair Peacock – Number 8

  • Johnny Davidson – Scrum Half

  • Lewis Higgins – Fly Half

  • Ross McDonnell – Left Wing

  • Ronan Kerr – Inside Centre

  • Struan McCamley – Outside Centre

  • Finlay Rayner – Right Wing

  • Ross Moglia – Full Back

Substitutes

  • Jamie Muir

  • Gordon Stein

  • Chris Vize

  • David Strachan

  • Tom McGeoch

  • Alex McKay

  • Danny Cairns

  • Scott Little