Late tries deny Birkmyre after strong showing against higher-league Dalziel

Stuart Cruickshank
🗓 21/09/2025

Dalziel 39 – 24 Birkmyre

Venue: Dalziel Rugby Club
Date: Saturday, 21st September 2025
Kick-off: 3:00pm
National Shield (Men’s)

Birkmyre were defeated in the cup at the weekend, going down 39–24 to Dalziel, who play a division above the Kilmacolm side. The match was far closer than the final score suggests, with Birkmyre leading 24–22 after 58 minutes. However, the home side ran in three late tries to seal victory.

Both sides started brightly. Birkmyre capitalised straight from the kick-off when a Dalziel player knocked on. From the resulting scrum, Michael McGeoch was on hand to pick up the loose ball and break through for the converted score. However, only two minutes later Dalziel hit back with one of their own, making it 5–7 after just five minutes.

The Lanarkshire side gradually took control of the match but had Birkmyre to thank for their next two scores. Firstly, Lewis Higgins threw a loose pass in the 12th minute which was intercepted 45m out, and the Dalziel centre ran in unopposed under the posts. Then, some poor decision-making and passing near their own goal line cost Birkmyre a further try in the 20th minute.

Birkmyre were far from out of it and pulled one back on the half-hour mark. Following a strong attacking phase from the forwards, the ball was released and, against the odds, McGeoch broke tackles from 7m out to bring the score to 19–12, where it remained until the interval.

Higgins made amends for his earlier blunder just three minutes into the second half. Having won a penalty 10m inside their own half, he took a quick tap-and-go which caught the defence off guard. He dummied the first and second line before outsprinting his opponents to dive in under the posts. He converted his own try to level the scores.

Birkmyre then took the lead in the 55th minute through centre Cammy Marr. From a Dalziel goal-line drop-out, the ball was worked to Marr 40m out. Beating defenders and outpowering three players grappling with him, he stretched over the line to get the ball down. Two minutes later, Dalziel closed the gap to two points by electing to kick a penalty in front of the posts.

At this point the match could have gone either way. However, the home side edged ahead in the closing stages. They crossed in the 62nd minute to take a three-point lead, before adding two more tries in the final eight minutes as Birkmyre pushed to get back on level terms.

There is no action this Saturday due to a rest week. Birkmyre are next in action against Uddingston in the league on Saturday 4th October at Birkmyre Park, Kilmacolm.

Photo Credit: Fiona Wallace