Birkmyre 12 – 32 Lochaber
Venue: Birkmyre Park, Kilmacolm
Date: Saturday, 15th November 2025
Kick-off: 2.00pm
Arnold Clark West Region League Division 2 (Men’s)
Birkmyre suffered their first home defeat of the season as Lochaber left Kilmacolm with a 32–12 victory. The final margin flattered the visitors, with Birkmyre only five points behind entering the last 10 minutes before a late surge from the Fort William side settled the contest.
Lochaber struck first after four minutes. Birkmyre were attacking on the edge of the 22 when they lost their own line-out, allowing the visitors to break from deep. One of Lochaber’s forwards powered through a missed tackle and sprinted 50 metres to score, side-stepping the full-back on the way. The conversion from in front of the posts was surprisingly missed.
Their second try arrived on 19 minutes after a sustained multi-phase attack beginning just outside their 22. Soft tackling again cost Birkmyre, with Lochaber eventually crossing from close range after 14 phases. The conversion slid wide.
Birkmyre responded on 28 minutes through centre Lewis Higgins. After sustained pressure inside the Lochaber 22, a penalty eight metres out gave them the platform. The forwards carried first before the call went wide, allowing Higgins to glide in untouched. David Cruickshank’s conversion attempt went narrowly wide.
Lochaber added a third try on 37 minutes when their No. 8 picked from a 5-metre scrum and broke a tackle to score.
Birkmyre hit back on the stroke of half-time. Regathering their own kick-off, they moved quickly towards the Lochaber line and earned a penalty seven metres out. Scrum-half Cammy Marr reacted sharply with a tap-and-go and forced his way over. The try was converted, reducing the deficit to 12–17 at the break.
The opening half-hour of the second period was tight, with both sides threatening but unable to add points. Birkmyre’s resistance eventually gave way in the 70th minute when Lochaber moved the ball wide from a 5-metre penalty to claim their fourth try. They added a penalty soon after and rounded off the victory with a final try from a line-out in the closing seconds.
The result leaves Birkmyre seventh in the table ahead of Saturday’s home fixture against third-placed Cumbernauld.
Photo Credit: Fiona Wallace
Photo Credit: Fiona Wallace
Photo Credit: Fiona Wallace
Photo Credit: Fiona Wallace
Photo Credit: Fiona Wallace
Scoring summary
- 4′ – Try for Lochaber RFC.
- 5′ – Conversion missed for Lochaber RFC.
- 19′ – Try for Lochaber RFC.
- 20′ – Conversion missed for Lochaber RFC.
- 28′ – Try for Birkmyre RFC – Lewis Higgins.
- 29′ – Conversion missed for Birkmyre RFC – David Cruickshank.
- 37′ – Try for Lochaber RFC.
- 38′ – Conversion for Lochaber RFC.
- 39′ – Try for Birkmyre RFC – Cameron Marr.
- 40′ – Conversion for Birkmyre RFC – David Cruickshank.
- 70′ – Try for Lochaber RFC.
- 71′ – Conversion for Lochaber RFC.
- 73′ – Penalty kicked for Lochaber RFC.
- 78′ – Try for Lochaber RFC.
- 79′ – Conversion for Lochaber RFC.
Birkmyre line-up
- 1. Lucas Reid – loose-head prop
- 2. Ross Adam – hooker
- 3. Louie Hoodless – tight-head prop
- 4. Owen Nicholas – second row
- 5. Liam Nicholas – second row
- 6. Alasdair Peacock – blindside flanker
- 7. Robbie Espie – openside flanker
- 8. Ruari Pitts – number 8
- 9. Lewis Higgins – scrum half
- 10. David Cruickshank – fly half
- 11. Adam Hannah – left wing
- 12. Michael McGeoch – inside centre
- 13. Cameron Marr – outside centre
- 14. Johnny Davidson – right wing
- 15. Paul Carruth – full back
Birkmyre replacements
- 16. Alexander Glass
- 17. Scott Little
- 18. Jonathon Smiley
- 19. Jamie Muir
- 20. Gordon Stein
- 21. Struan McCamley
- 22. Alex McKay
Lochaber line-up
- 1. Callum MacDonald
- 2. Liam Ryan
- 3. Josh MacKay
- 4. Finlay Stewart
- 5. Dylan Monk
- 6. Ben Fulford (VC)
- 7. John Blackley
- 8. Conor Taylor (VC)
Lochaber replacements
- 16. Cody MacKay
- 17. Davy Duncan
- 18. Robert Gosling
Arnold Clark West Region League Division 2 (Men’s)
Results – Saturday 15th November 2025
- Birkmyre RFC 12–32 Lochaber RFC
- Cambuslang RFC 39–34 Irvine RFC
- Cumbernauld RFC P–P Mid Argyll RFC (postponed – waterlogged pitch)
- Uddingston RFC 33–33 Waysiders/Drumpellier RFC
- Wigtownshire RFC 43–12 Bishopton RFC
Fixtures – Saturday 22nd November 2025
- 2:00pm – Birkmyre RFC v Cumbernauld RFC
- 2:00pm – Cambuslang RFC v Bishopton RFC
- 2:00pm – Uddingston RFC v Irvine RFC
- 2:00pm – Waysiders/Drumpellier RFC v Mid Argyll RFC
- 2:00pm – Wigtownshire RFC v Lochaber RFC
League table
| Team | Played | W | L | D | F:A | Diff | TB | LB | C | U | Points |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Wigtownshire RFC | 9 | 7 | 1 | 1 | 278 : 180 | 98 | 6 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 37 |
| Cambuslang RFC | 9 | 7 | 2 | 0 | 411 : 183 | 228 | 7 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 36 |
| Cumbernauld RFC | 7 | 5 | 1 | 1 | 218 : 96 | 122 | 4 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 27 |
| Irvine RFC | 8 | 4 | 4 | 0 | 248 : 200 | 48 | 7 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 25 |
| Lochaber RFC | 8 | 4 | 4 | 0 | 265 : 153 | 112 | 4 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 22 |
| Bishopton RFC | 8 | 4 | 4 | 0 | 200 : 257 | -57 | 3 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 20 |
| Birkmyre RFC | 8 | 3 | 5 | 0 | 197 : 284 | -87 | 3 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 16 |
| Uddingston RFC | 8 | 1 | 6 | 1 | 210 : 455 | -245 | 5 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 12 |
| Mid Argyll RFC | 7 | 2 | 5 | 0 | 158 : 252 | -94 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 11 |
| Waysiders/Drumpellier RFC | 8 | 1 | 6 | 1 | 135 : 260 | -125 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 8 |
Up-to-date as at 18/11/25