Match Report from: Duncan Smith

Annan kept their hopes alive of performing a miraculous Great Escape from relegation to West Division 2 with an emphatic five-try bonus-point win over regional rivals Wigtownshire at the Everholm.

It was Annan’s first league outing in five weeks and first on home turf in 12 but that didn’t show as coach Juan Phyfer’s side clicked from the off and gave their supporters something to cheer nearing the end of a season which has proved challenging but not without regular flashes of what this group of players can achieve when they hit form.

There are now three games left and Annan now need to beat third placed Oban Lorne, also at home, then beat fellow strugglers Strathaven away the following week and hope results elsewhere help the cause before finishing away to already crowned West 1 Champions Ardrossan

James Kirby finished off a fine phase of dominant possession from the home side before Alex Halliday added a second to give the home side the edge at the break.

A double from home man of the match Ryan Hetherington, the first at the start of the second half and then from a lineout maul straight off the training ground, secured the bonus before Aaron Carmichael finished things off and Josh Whiteside, who also added a conversion.

“It was a really massive performance from everyone,” said a delighted Phyfer after the match. “Our front row were phenomenal and the whole pack. Josh moving to scrum-half and Fraser to 10 worked really well at half-back, they really took to it.

“The first half was great against the wind, Wigtownshire tried to used that but our defence was huge, we led 10-7 at half-time and then got another within a minute of the second half to get a sniff of the bonus point. Great result, great game, training has been great and hopefully we carry on this momentum into the next two massive games.”

Annan Starting XV: 1 Ryan Glass 2 Murray Forbes 3 Kieron Warrick (C) 4 James Morrison 5 Frazer Hope 6 Stewart Livingston 7 Sean Haren 8 Ryan Hetherington 9 Josh Whiteside 10 Fraser McMillan 11 James Kirby 12 Alex Halliday 13 Aaron Carmichael 14 Aitken Render 15 Andrew Jancey

Subs used (all used): 16 Ryan Armstrong 17 Callum Smith 18 Ben Latimer 19 Johnny Callaghan