THIS WEEKEND AT ANNAN RUGBY

FOR SATURDAY 15TH & SUNDAY 16TH JANUARY 2022

THIS WEEKEND AT ANNAN RUGBY

After last weekend’s matches were all cancelled due to Covid or unavailable players,  it is hoped that this weekend 2022 will finally have some Annan teams take to the rugby pitches.

There are 5 teams in action as well as the U18 Girls over the weekend.

On Saturday, the 1st XV are hosting Strathendrick, the 2nd XV are on the road to Ardrossan while the U18 Boys take the short journey to the Greenlaw to take on Newton Stewartry. 1pm KO for the U18 XV and 2pm KO’s for the 1st and 2nd XV

On Sunday, the U14 Boys are away to Stewartry for a rugby festival while the Annan Warriors – MATCH OFFtravel to the Borders to take on Kelso Ladies in their latest National 1 match. Kick off: 2pm

And finally, last but by no means least, our U18 Girls are joining Biggar Girls to take on Stirling Girls in a friendly match.

Whatever match or matches you can get to this weekend, your support is most appreciated as always by all the players.


1ST XV TAKE ON STRATHENDRICK AT VIOLETBANK

STOP PRESS: This afternoon at Violetbank it was the first game for the 1st XV since the 4th December and first game at Violetbank since the 6th November.

Despite the lack of match practice (albeit much the same for Strathendrick), the lads done good and they ran in seven tries to Strathendrick’s two

Tries from Sean Haren, Ryan Hetherington, Alex Jones, Kieran Warrick, Michael Thompson and Harry Houldey (2)

Kicks from James Bigham (1P) and Aaron Carmichael (1C)

Final score was 40-10 to Annan – Well played lads and enjoy the beers at Bank Street.


The 1st XV are at home this Saturday as they welcome Strathendrick to Violetbank in their latest league match.

Like a lot of teams, the 1st XV have not played for 6 weeks and for Annan, it will be their first home match since the 6th November.

The Annan lads lost their last 2 matches in 2021 so will be hoping to start 2022 with a win to get their season back on track. Promotion is now very unlikely but Annan still have to ensure they avoid any future relegation battles and start building for next season.

Strathendrick currently lie 2nd bottom in West 1, 13 points behind Annan, but on their last outing picked up their 2nd win of the season and will be hoping to continue this winning trend to get themselves out of relegation trouble.

When it comes to matches between the teams, Annan have a decent record with 6 wins from the 8 encounters since the teams first meeting back in 2013.

Annan won the first 5 matches but Strathendrick have the edge in recent encounters with 2 wins from the last 3 and they won the last match between the teams back in February 2020.

So despite the points difference between the teams it should be a great and close game of rugby at Violetbank.

A big Annan crowd to spur the lads on would as always be appreciated.

Kick Off: 2pm

Starting XV: Ryan Glass, Kieran Warrick, Kieron Watret, Michael Thompson, Neal Coupland, Harry Houldey, Zac Lockerbie, Sean Haren (VC). Aaron Carmichael, James Bigham, Alex Jones, Ryan Hetherington, Andrew Jancey (C), Duncan Smith, James Kirby.

Subs: Murray Forbes, Ewan Campbell, Callum Taylor and Ben Conroy

Mascots: Ethan Cordley and Gregor Hogg


2ND XV ON THE ROAD TO ARDROSSAN

STOP PRESS: Match is OFF and has been rearranged for the 19th March


The 2nd XV start their 2022 rugby year with an away match to Ardrossan 2nd XV

The 2nd XV have not had a great set of results on the road so far this season but will be hoping to notch up their 2nd away win against the North Ayrshire team.

Like the 1st XV, the 2nd XV have not played since the 4th December and their defeat to Newton Stewartry, so the lads will be wanting to start 2022 with a win.

Ardrossan unfortunately have been struggling to put out a 2nd string this season but it is hoped that they will have the numbers for the match on Saturday.

A win for Annan on Saturday could move the team into 4th spot in the league.

Kick Off: 2pm

Starting XV: TBC

Subs: TBC


U18 COLTS OFF TO THE GREENLAW

STOP PRESS: The 12 Colts went down 71-7 to a well drilled Galloway side. Onto the next one lads.


The U18 Colts are off to the Greenlaw on Saturday as they take on Newton Stewartry in their latest development match.

The U18 boys have only managed 5 games so far this season so will be raring to go and get the 2022 rugby year started.

The teams last outing was a great win back in November and they will be wanting to extend this small winning run on Saturday.

The U18 team are small in player numbers this season but big on expansive running rugby and hopefully this will be on show again on Saturday.

Best of luck lads.

Kick Off: 2pm

Starting XV: TBC


WARRIORS TRAVEL TO THE BORDERS ON SUNDAY

STOP PRESS: The Kelso Ladies v Warriors match on Sunday has been postponed. Both teams have agreed to rearrange the fixture due to rising covid levels & potential travel concerns in line with SRU guidelines.


The Annan Warriors travel to Kelso Ladies on Sunday in their latest National Division 1 match.

The Warriors are 10 points clear and have 1 game in hand over bottom placed Kelso Ladies but a tough match is expected as the Border team needs to win this game to have any chance of avoiding relegation this season.

For the Warriors, a win would ease any potential relegation worries and give them a great chance at a 5th spot finish come the end of the season.

The Warriors have lost their last 3 matches but will be heartened with their last performance back in December when they took the unbeaten league leaders Garioch Ladies close, scoring 4 tries in the process. The only team this season to get a try bonus point v Garioch.

The teams have never met in the league but have met 3 times in friendlies and plate matches, the last of which was at Poynder Park when the Kelso Ladies ran out 19-17 in the SRU Plate competition back in 2020, a match in which the Warriors got to experience a Border crowd for the first time.

The Warriors did win the 2 friendly matches, so a tight close affair is expected on Sunday as both teams need that win to help with any future relegation battles.

Go well Warriors.

Starting XV: TBC

Subs: TBC


YOUTH TEAMS IN ACTION ON SUNDAY

The U14 Boys are off to Stewartry for a Rugby Festival with various clubs from around the area. Some great future first team players will be on show at the Greenlaw

And finally, the U18 Girls are off to join Biggar Girls are they travel to Stirling to take on Stirling Girls in a development match.

Both matches kick off times are a TBC at the time of writing.

Best of luck to all the players and teams this weekend.

#MonTheAnnan


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