Lochaber’s biggest defeat in recent years to league champions at Kilmacolm

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Lochaber suffered their biggest defeat in recent years, when a makeshift team travelled to Kilmacolm in Renfrewshire to take on a Birkmyre side who needed a bonus point win to secure the West Division 3 title.

As has been the case recently, getting 15 players to start the game was a challenge, with only eight players available as of Friday morning. Last minute changes of plan allowed a team to take the field at the earlier time of 1.30 pm.

The hosts quickly secured the bonus point they required, running in four unanswered scores in the opening 20 minutes as Lochaber toiled with the speed of the well-drilled Birkmyre team.

Lochaber finally found their stride and for a 10-minute period controlled the game, dominating in the scrum and scoring through lock Peter Smilie, with captain Ryan Davies adding the extras.

That was to be the only scoreboard highlight for the visitors, however, who despite not playing terribly, were missing too many tackles against their fired-up hosts, much to the delight of the sizeable crowd.

Lochaber were required to make more positional changes to their already cobbled together team when Davies went off with a head knock.

The overwhelming pressure of the Birkmyre attack and their squad’s numerical advantage took its toll on Lochaber, who succumbed to a heavy defeat.

The team were the first to offer their congratulations to the new champions, who thoroughly deserved their status as one of the strongest teams in the league, aided by a consistent squad of available players. Recruitment remains essential in the off-season for Lochaber, as the team builds for the 2024/25 league campaign. Any men over 18 who wish to get involved should keep an eye on social media for pre-season training announcements, to which they will be warmly welcomed.

With the season running beyond the original planned duration as a result of a two-month lay-off for unplayable pitches and international matches, Lochaber will be aiming to finish in style against Lanark and Clydesdale on Saturday May 11 at Banavie.