BIG WEEKEND FOR ANNAN RUGBY
Last weekend only the 3 senior teams took to the rugby pitches but all 3 had impressive wins. This weekend the teams will be aiming to continue this form.
On Saturday the 1st XV host old friends and rivals Stewartry, the 2nd XV are on the road to East Kilbride while on Sunday the Warriors host Broughton Ladies in a match the Warriors need to win to get off the bottom of the table.
Some of the youth teams are back in action and on Sunday as the U14 Boys are off to Stewartry, the U16 Boys host Garnock while a couple of our U18 Girl players are joining up with Biggar Girls as they travel to Stirling County
Also busy with training during the week for all teams plus the P1-P7 Boys and Girls have rugby camps on Wednesday and Thursday .
Still time to book a spot – see https://annanrugby.com/2021/09/09/p1-p7-october-rugby-camps/ for more details.
Finally. a reminder that on Friday there are Replica Top Orders being taken, from 7 pm, at Violetbank (cash or card payments)
DERBY DAY FOR THE 1ST XV
STOP PRESS: Bad day at the office for the senior men as both teams went down to heavy defeats.
The 1st XV lost a couple of early tries to Stewartry in the derby clash at Violetbank and a late try at the end of the 1st half made it 17-0 to the men from the Greenlaw.
The 2nd half started much like the 1st and an early try and conversion from the Stewartry lads and it was 24-0 and game over.
A late in the 2nd half from Stewartry made it 29-0.
Annan did score at the death via the Josh so I invoke the age old “last try the winner” rules – so what a win!
Congratulations to Stewartry 1st XV to who head back to Castle Douglas with 5 league points and a huge lead in the Chisholm Cup.
Match Report, Photos and Highlights: now online
Big game on Saturday as the 1st XV welcome old friends and rivals Stewartry to Violetbank for the 1st leg of the Chisholm Cup which also doubles up as a league match.
Both teams are having a great start to the season and sit in 2nd place (Stewartry) and 5th place (Annan – but with 2 games in hand)
Stewartry are coming to Annan on the back of a great 93-0 win over Strathendrick last Saturday. Annan also had a great win away 41-17 over Kilmarnock – their 1st win at Bellsland since 2006. So you would think a high scoring match of rugby could be on the cards. Now watch as it ends 3-0! – A drop goal in the last minute for the win?
Stewartry are also having their best run of matches against Annan and on Saturday the men from the Greenlaw are aiming for their 4th straight win.
Annan will be of course wanting to stop that run and get back to the kind of form versus Stewartry that lead to 6 straight wins just before Stewartry’s current run
Overall at Violetbank the teams have met 11 times in league and Chisholm cup matches with Annan leading 8 wins to 3
Stewartry are the current Chisholm Cup holder after their two wins in the 2019/20 season but Annan still lead 10-8 in the series.
A great match of rugby expected on Saturday and as always a big Annan support to cheers the lads on would be most appreciated,
Kick off: 3pm
Starting XV: R Glass, C Bell, K Warrick, D Robson, N Coupland, F Hope, H Houldey, S Haren (Vice Captain), A Carmichael, J Bigham, E Haley, A Halliday, O Ferdinand, R Hetherington, A Jancey (Captain)
Subs: A Craik, Z Lockerbie, J Whiteside, J Kirby
Mascots: Holly Richmond & Calvin-Leigh Little
2ND XV OFF TO EAST KILBRIDE
STOP PRESS: The 2nd XV travelled to East Kilbride with the bare 15 and struggled all match to contain the East Kilbride XV despite some heroic defending.
For the 2nd time time this season, the 2nd XV faced a club whose 1st XV did not have a match….
The lads also played most of the 2nd half with 14 due to an head knock.
Hats off to Tam though as the Annan legend played the full 80!
Final score: East Kilbride 89 v 2nd XV 0
Onto the next one lads.
The 2nd XV are on the road to East Kilbride on Saturday as they aim to add to their great win over Cumnock last Saturday.
East Kilbride sit in 3rd place in the league but have been awarded 3 walkovers so far this season as teams in the reserve leagues struggle to put out 2nd XV teams week in, week out. Rugby is booming though we are constantly told at club level.
Annan are currently in 5th spot and a win on Saturday will close the gap on East Kilbride to 3-4 points and Annan would still have a match in hand.
Will be a tough ask though as when East Kilbride have managed to play this season, they racked up an impressive win over Newton Stewartry
Its been 9 matches since the 2nd XV last won away from home in the league but as they always say, 10th time is a charm!
If you are in the East Kilbride area, please pop along to cheers on the boys
Kick off: 3pm
2nd XV Squad: B Conroy (Captain), A Jones, I Thorburn, K Watret, M Forbes, C Irving, C Taylor, C Bell (Snr), S Muir, D Smith, E Campbell, E Le Vin, D King, F McCartney, C Smith, J Ogilvie
WARRIORS IN A BIG HOME MATCH
STOP PRESS: The Warriors win! 15-7 with tries from Jane (2) and Mally. A great win for the Warriors that takes them off the bottom of the table. Well played Warriors!
Brief Match Report, Photos and Highlights: now online
The Warriors are having a tough old season with results and injuries/unavailable players and currently sit at the bottom of National Division 1
For the Warriors, a win on Sunday versus fellow strugglers Broughton Ladies would most likely lift them off the bottom of the table.
The league is split into 4 teams vying for promotion and 4 teams vying to avoid relegation.
The Warriors have yet to play any of the 3 other teams at the bottom (Ayr, Broughton and Kelso) so a win versus Broughton on Sunday would be a big boost for the Warriors.
The Warriors and Broughton have met 3 times in the past with a 1-1-1 record for the teams.
The last match was a 17-17 draw back at Violetbank in October 2019. The other Violetbank meeting was a big win for the Warriors who will be hoping to replicate this result.
The Warriors will appreciate as always any loud Annan support you can give them on Sunday.
Players to meet at Violetbank at 12.30pm
Kick off: 2pm
Starting XV: 1 E Jardine, 2 S Taylor, 3 J Warrick, 4 K Warrick, 5 M Muir, 6 A McWilliam, 7 K Taylor, 8 C Barnes, 9 N Barlow (Captain), 10 M McGeoch, 11 L Glendinning, 12 C O’Connell, 13 J Stewart, 14 I Cook, 15 K Barlow
Subs: R Parker-Clevett, A Clark, B Carrol, E McCormick
Mascots: Holly & Peyton Benson
YOUTH TEAMS AND PLAYERS BACK IN ACTION
STOP PRESS: Alas the U16 Boys match has been cancelled as Garnock do not have the numbers.
While the U14 Boys play some great rugby at Stewartry but lose 49-27.
After a few weeks break, some of Annan Rugbys Youth teams and players are back in action on Sunday.
At Violetbank the U16 Boys host Garnock while the U14 Boys travel to Stewartry. Both Kick off at 2pm
For the U14 Boys, if still to confirm availability for this Sunday (and next Sunday home to Carrick) please contact Heather Tinning. For this Sunday and the U16 Boys please contact Andy Render
While some of our U18 Girls are travelling with Biggar Girls as they take on Stirling County Girls. Kick off 2.30pm
Best of luck to all the teams this weekend and hope the amazing Annan supporters will get to as many matches as they can to cheer on the teams.