Birkmyre pick up bonus point despite heavy defeat for Bears

Cambuslang 66 – 25 Birkmyre 

Venue: Cambuslang Rugby Club
Date: Saturday, 13th September 2025
Kick-off: 1:30pm
Arnold Clark West Region League Division 2 (Men’s)

Birkmyre picked up a losing bonus point on Saturday in defeat away to Cambuslang. Trailing 38-10 at half-time, they ran in three second-half scores to add to their first-half try, with the match finishing 66-25.

Birkmyre got off to a positive start, winning a penalty in front of the posts 40m out just four minutes in. Archie Thomson stepped up and slotted over for the early three points. However, it quickly went downhill for the Kilmacolm side as they shipped three tries in 12 minutes to trail 17-3, with poor tackling proving costly.

Cambuslang extended their lead further with a converted try ten minutes later in monsoon conditions. They all but sealed the result on 30 minutes with a fifth try, turning over a Birkmyre attack and racing the length of the pitch to score from inside their own half.

Birkmyre gave themselves a glimmer of hope five minutes before the break when Finlay Rayner crossed for the visitors. From a scrum just outside their own 22 near the right touchline, quick hands worked the ball across the pitch and Rayner broke a couple of tackles before finishing from 65m out. But any momentum was short-lived as Cambuslang added their sixth try before half-time.

In contrast to the opening period, the second half was more balanced for the first 15 minutes. Birkmyre then struck again, winning a scrum 7m from the Cambuslang line. Clean ball gave them the platform to move left for Rayner to dive in at the corner.

Five minutes later, Cambuslang hit back. A loose pass from Thomson near halfway was intercepted by the home centre, who ran clear under the posts. Thomson made amends soon after, though, when Ross Moglia cut a great line to make ground and popped a pass to the supporting fly-half, who finished from close range.

Cambuslang responded with another couple of scores to push their lead out to 46 points. But Birkmyre had the last word, securing their bonus point with a fourth try in the closing play. From a tap penalty, the Kilmacolm side created an overlap on the right for winger Alex McKay to slide in at the corner.

The result leaves Birkmyre sixth in the table. Next up is a break from league action, with a cup tie away to Dalziel in Motherwell this weekend.

Photo Credit: Fiona Wallace

Photo Credit: Fiona Wallace

Photo Credit: Fiona Wallace

Photo Credit: Fiona Wallace

Scorers

Cambuslang RFC

• Adam Hunter – 2 tries

• Calum Keith – 1 try

• Chris Bolton – 1 try

• Lewis Mooney – 1 try

• Sean Robinson – 1 try

• Louis Senter – 3 tries

• Tom Madden – 1 try

• Duncan Campbell – 5 conversions

• Angus Boland – 3 conversions

Birkmyre RFC

• Finlay Rayner – 2 tries

• Archie Thomson – 1 try, 1 penalty, 1 conversion

• Alex McKay – 1 try

Key Moments

• 4′ – Archie Thomson (Birkmyre) penalty, 0–3

• 10′–20′ – Cambuslang score 3 quick tries, 17–3

• 30′ – Cambuslang 5th try from turnover, 31–3

• 35′ – Finlay Rayner (Birkmyre) try, 31–10

• 38′ – Cambuslang 6th try before HT, 38–10

• 50′ – Rayner’s second try, 38–15

• 55′ – Cambuslang intercept try, 45–15

• 60′ – Archie Thomson try + conversion, 45–22

• 65′–72′ – Cambuslang add two further tries, 66–22

• 79′ – Alex McKay (Birkmyre) try, 66–25 (FT)

Teams

Birkmyre RFC – 1st XV

1. Lucas Reid – Loose-head Prop

2. Ross Adam – Hooker

3. James Halpin – Tight-head Prop

4. Owen Nicholas – Second Row

5. Lee Rodger – Second Row

6. Liam Nicholas – Blindside Flanker

7. Gordon Stein – Openside Flanker

8. Ruari Pitts – Number 8

9. Johnny Davidson – Scrum Half

10. Archie Thomson – Fly Half

11. Alex McKay – Left Wing

12. Michael McGeoch – Inside Centre

13. Cameron Marr – Outside Centre

14. Finlay Rayner – Right Wing

15. Ross Moglia – Full Back

Substitutes
16. Alexander Glass
17. Jonathon Smiley
18. Scott Little
19. Danny Cairns
20. Charles Barrah
21. Jamie Muir
22. Chris Vize

Cambuslang RFC – 1st XV

1. Sean Robinson – Front Row

2. Tom Madden – Front Row

3. Boris Boum – Prop

4. Alexander Fountain – Second Row

5. Lewis Mooney – Second Row

6. Nick McGoay – Front Row

7. Scott Lennox – Utility Forward

8. Chris Bolton (C) – Number Eight

9. Duncan Campbell – Scrum Half

10. Euan Jones – Half Back

11. Calum Keith – Stand-off

12. Chad McGlame – Centre

13. Louis Senter – Centre

14. Adam Hunter – Wing

15. Gregg Oehme – Full Back

Substitutes
16. Blair Harkins – Hooker
17. Callum McClure – Front Row
18. Drew Ligget – Front Row
19. Edward Boothman – Second Row
20. Christian Roos
21. Angus Boland – Centre
22. Theo Lawlor