ANNAN WARRIORS v DUNDEE VALKYRIES 2ND XV.

Match Report from: Colin “Choc” Warrick

Annan took to Violetbank in the 3^rd instalment of the National Plate competition against 1^st time visitors Dundee Valkyrie 2^nd XV buoyed on the back of two wins from two in the competition with a full squad of 22 available the Warriors kicked off with an air of confidence.

Knowing the task at hand the Warriors started somewhat slowly struggling to retain the ball & unusually showing some nerves, but on 10 minutes following some strong defence the ball was dislodged in tackle for Captain Nicole Barlow to recover & race clear to open the scoring with Annan’s 1^st opportunity.

This score settled the Warriors but soon after the visiting team drew level when from a wayward pass the ball was shipped to the winger who managed to stay clear of the chasing defenders to score.

Annan were soon on the attack when either side of the 30 min mark Captain Barlow scored her 2^nd from a dart & dummy from a scrum & her 3^rd following a strong carry & offload from number 8 Ashley Clark.

Half time score: Annan Warriors 15 v Dundee Valkyries 2nds  5

With a couple of changes made the Warriors kicked off determined to seal the win & aim for the required bonus point try.

The bonus point try soon arrived when 2^nd row Hannah Paterson when from a tap penalty 10 yards out barged her way over to score with Mally McGeoch kicking the extras.

With the Warriors able to keep the tempo & intensity high the visitors started to tire & the gaps in the defence started to appear. From ruck just inside the Annan half scrum half Nicole Barlow went on a mazy run with at one point she seemed to be surrounded by 4 defenders before weaving & accelerating clear to score another try, this was quickly followed by 2^nd row Paterson’s 2^nd of the day again barging over following some good work by flanker Ruth Taylor, both of which were converted by Mally McGeoch.

The floodgates had now seemed to have opened with number 8 Ashley Clark going over for a well-earned score before Hannah Paterson completed her hat trick when she ran in from 40 metres leaving several defenders in her wake following a powerful run, converted by Mally.

Fittingly the final score went to Captain Nicole Barlow who chalked up her 5^th try of the day when from a scrum within her own half dummied her way past three defenders to race in to complete the scoring, with Mally kicking the conversion to complete the scoring.

Final score: Annan Warriors 55 v Dundee Valkyries 2nds 5

All in all, another good performance from the Warriors with the hard work being put in bringing the rewards they deserve.

It was also good to see prop Julie Warrick & centre Ciara O’Connell returning to the match day squad following the birth of Holly & Caelan respectively.

So, with one game to go of the group stages, away to Oban on 26^th March qualification for the semi finals is firmly in the Warriors hands, so lots of hard work is planned in the next couple of weeks to prepare for the final game.

Best in the pack were Hannah Paterson & Ashley Clark with Rhianna Parker – Clevett named forward of the day.

In the backs Lucy Stevenson, Joanne Clark & Sarah Hunter played well with back of the day deservedly going to Captain Nicole Barlow.

Annan Team: E Jardine, M Brogan, M Cother, H Paterson, M Muir, R Parker – Clevett, T Williams, A Clark, N Barlow ©, L Glendinning, L McGregor, L Stevenson, J Clark, K Morrison, S Hunter

Replacements (all used): S Taylor, J Warrick, L Moffat, R Taylor, M McGeoch, C O’Connell, J Graham