Match Report from: GUS ROBERTSON

With 7 changes to the starting XV from last weeks squad and 11 changes in total, the Annan players and supporters knew that a tough tough match against champions elect Kilmarnock was going to be that wee bit tougher!

Declan Ferguson started for the 1st XV for the first time in 5 years, Michael Thompson returned for the first time this season and Neal Coupland came out of his 2 year rugby retirement for the cause

Kilmarnock had brought down a large number of supporters and with most of Annan Rugby away at Murrayfield supporting the Warriors, Violetbank was a bit different than usual!

Kilmarnock technically needed 1 point to clinch the championship but with their far superior points difference over Lenzie they were champions before a ball was kicked.

Ryan Hetherington led out the Annan lads on the occasion of his 100th cap for the black and amber. Congrats Ryan on the 100 appearances. Here’s to the next 100!

In the first half the home side gave Kilmarnock too much respect and room and with the Annan defence missing too many tackles and their usual reliable line speed a bit lacking, the away team ran in 3 quick tries in succession

Annan did hit back thanks to a well worked try as returning Ryan Armstrong dotted down under the posts. Fraser McMillan with the conversion.

However the home side could just not get the ball off the away side and Kilmarnock ran in 5 more tries to lead at half time 44-7

The 2nd half was a far better performance from Annan as after making several changes at half time the Annan defence and attack was a lot more aggressive and Annan started to put a lot more pressure on the Kilmarnock team and  the home side started to play lot better and matched Kilmarnock up front.

If we were just counting the 2nd half, it ended 19-12 to Kilmarnock Ryan Hetherington with this 14th try of the season and Fraser McMillan with a try and conversion were the Annan point scorers.

Ryan Hetherington with his 16 tries was the end of season top try scorer for the 1st XV.

Alas as rules state both half must be added together so the final score was the not as good reading 19-63 to Kilmarnock.

The last 4 matches have all ended in defeat but for large portions of the matches the Annan lads have been the better team, unfortunately matches last for 80 minutes and Annan just need to get to their potential a lot quicker and then sustain it. I make it sound easy. 🙂

Anyway a big thank you to the boys that played on Saturday with a number of them playing out of position and once again never giving up

And congratulations to Kilmarnock for winning the West 1 Division.

Starting XV: 1 Ryan Glass ( C) 2 Murray Forbes 3 Sean Armstrong 4 Frazer Hope 5 Callum Smith 6 Mason Watret 7 Ryan Armstrong 8 Ryan Hetherington 9 Aaron Carmichael 10 Frazer McMillan 11 Ewan Campbell 12  Adam Torbett 13 Aitken Render 14 Declan Ferguson 15 Lex Stevenson

Subs (all used): 16 Eben Le Vin 17 Wallace Alexander 18 Stewart Livingstone 19 Willie Grey 20 John Glendinning
21 Michael Thompson 22 Neal Coupland