The home side went into this game determined to get a positive result but a series of missed opportunities meant that it was Birkmyre who managed to come away with the points.
Cumnock started positively with a a strong drive followed up by scrum half Alex Dunsmuir. Birkmyre gave away a penalty while trying to slow the ball down. Martin Thomson stepped up to hit the kick but his attempt drifted wide of the posts.
Cumnock continued to attempt to play positively but a series of handling errors slowed their progress and meant the game was broken up by a lot of scrums. Their was a struggle for supremacy up front with both teams competing at the scrums, though both sides also struggled when it came to line outs.
Birkmyre were also enjoying their share of possession and had a penalty of their own, though it too went wide of the posts. Cumnock were largely responsible for the pressure that they found themselves under with several loose passes and kicks gifting possession back to the visitors. However, the Cumnock defence was solid round the fringes with Andy McCrorie and Kevin Brady both getting involved. They were unable to clear their lines properly though with the ball constantly ending up in the hands of the Birkmyre back three who enjoyed the opportunities to counter attack and keep Cumnock pinned back in their own half. The breakthrough came after a Cumnock mistake close to their own line. Cumnock moved the ball wide, sensing space but a loose pass was hacked ahead by the Birkmyre winger who won the race to the line to touchdown. The conversion was missed.
Cumnock were determined to get back into the game but their error strewn display continued although both Gregor McMillan and Martin Thomson both threatened when on the ball. They were unable to find the space they needed to make a breakthrough though and the game descended once more into a scrummaging match with neither team doing enough to dominate the contest. Birkmyre managed to extend their lead though with a well struck penalty just before half time.
After a stern half time talking to, Cumnock upped their effort at the beginning of the second half and worked their way into a dangerous position and again winning a penalty after several good phases of play. Martin Thomson's kick looked good but bounced back off the upright and Birkmyre were able to scramble it clear.
They weren't clear for long though as Cumnock worked their way back into the Birkmyre twenty-two with patient build up play from the forwards with Robbie Heron and Blair McMillan both driving the ball on. Good work from Donald Hunter kept the ball moving forward and Cumnock secured a scrum five metres out after being held up. David Kerr and Alex Dunsmuir both took the ball on before Campbell Reid found space to score under the posts. Martin Thomson was on target with the conversion to reduce the gap to a point.
Basic errors continued to plague Cumnock though, typified by a knock on straight from the kick off, gifting possession straight back to Birkmyre. The game could have gone either way at this stage with neither team able to do enough to break down the other's defence. Jamie Thomson was well to the fore as ever in defence, including one huge hit. It was Birkmyre who took the initiative though with their centre cutting a good line and breaking through several weak Cumnock tackles to score under the posts. The conversion was again added to open the gap back up to eight point with time running out for Cumnock.
They set about trying to claw back the back but Birkmyre were determined to hold onto their advantage. Cumnock's forwards drove at the line but resolute tackling kept them at bay. Birkmyre gave away a few penalties in their determination to keep the line intact but charges from Donald Hunter and Campbell Reid came to nothing. Eventually the ball was shipped wide with Blair McMillan and David Kerr combining to make space for Gregor McMillan to have a run at the line. The winger was held up short but a Birkmyre player was deemed to have intervened illegally and the referee awarded a penalty try. Thomson added the conversion but it was too little, too late as the referee blew the final whistle, leaving Cumnock wondering what might have been. Once again it was the home side's own mistakes that cost them dear and a yet another slow start that gave Birkmyre an eight point head start. Cumnock now need to regroup and try to up their game when league fixtures resume in two weeks time.

Team: G.Montgomery, A.McCrorie, D.Hunter, B.McMillan, K.Brady, J.Thomson, D.Kerr, C.Reid, A.Dunsmuir, F.Hamilton, G.McMillan, A.Smith, M.Thomson, M.Wallace, J.Ferrans
Bench: R.Heron, J.Hodge, M.Linden, S.Taylor, L.Howie, B.Partridge