Annan got back to league business in Arnold Clark West Division 1 with a fine bonus-point win at windswept Violetbank, which saw them move into the top four.

After the international break Annan were looking to avenge a heavy away defeat to the same side earlier in the campaign, and were grateful to get the chance as the Motherwell men travelled south for a fixture that survived Storm Darragh but still felt its force on a wet and soggy ground and a high wind that moved more cross pitch than favouring either side.

Annan’s kickers did a fine job in the circumstances and overall coach Juan Phyfer was delighted.

“I’m very happy with that performance. It shows how far we’ve come,” he said after watching tries from Ryan Hetherington (2), Callum Bell and James Kirkby see Annan leapfrog the visitors into fourth place. Josh Whiteside added two conversions.

“It was a great game for us after a tight first half. Everyone played very well,” added the coach.

“As you can imagine it was a game played mostly in the forwards and our tackling was really admirable and everyone put in a shift. Now we have a massive game at 2nd placed Lenzie next week. They are flying but why can’t we go up there and get a result?”

Annan 1st XV Squad: 1 Ryan Glass 2 Callum Bell 3 Keiran Warrick (C) 4 Frazer Hope 5 Mason Watret 6 Wallace Alexander 7 Stewart Livingston 8 Ryan Hetherington 9 Josh Whiteside 10 Frasier McMillan 11 Ben Conroy 12 James Kirby 13 Aitken Render 14 Ben Latimer 15 Aaron Carmichael 16 Callum Taylor  (used) 17 Willie Gray (used) 18 Murray Forbes (used) 19 Juan Phyfer (used) 20 Ewan Campbel l(used) 21 Bradley James (not used) 22 John Glendinning (not used)