Bears bashed in first match

Birkmyre crashed to defeat in their opening West Division Two match of the season — losing 45-14 at much-improved Cumbernauld.

- STUART CRUICKSHANK

The Bears struggled to replicate their form of last term which saw them beat the North Lanarkshire side on both occasions.

Despite the scoreline, Birkmyre started the match promisingly - driving dangerously up the pitch before conceding a penalty.

They should have had the first score in the 10th minute when prop Scott Little carried the ball aggressively over the line from five metres out, only to be adjudged incorrectly not to have touched the ball down.

To add insult to injury, a high tackle in the act of scoring was also missed which would have resulted in a penalty try and a yellow card if it had been spotted.