Match Report from: Colin Warrick

For the penultimate time in the league part of the season the Warriors took to a somewhat soft Violetbank pitch to face West Ladies.

Following the observance of a minute’s silence to pay our respects to the fallen on Remembrance Sunday the game kicked off with the Warriors hoping to get the elusive win.

As with previous weeks the Warriors started brightly but again as in previous games an early mistake was to prove costly with West gathered a wayward lineout to string some passes together & score the opening try.

This opening score was swiftly followed by a second score to stretch the visitors lead, these early scores seemed to kick start the Warriors from when they started to play some more controlled rugby with forwards Nicole Mullen, Megan Cother & Ashley Clark all making yards in big carries. However, they could not turn pressure into points with the visitors closing out the half with a third unconverted score.

Half time score: Annan Warriors 0 v West Ladies 15

With conditions worsening the 2^nd half started with the Warriors albeit 3 scores down still well in the game.

Again, the Warriors started brightly & this time managed to convert some hard earned pressure with a 1^st Warriors try from prop Megan Cother.

Again, the Warriors pushed hard on attack but with the ball becoming more slippy due to the cold wet conditions a wayward pass was spilled for the West players to react quicker to convert pressure of their own into a score which again was followed by a 2^nd score almost immediately.

To their credit the Warriors kept going & had the bulk of the possession for the remainder of the game, with number of chances missed due to knock ons or wayward passes. However, in almost the final play of the game scrum half Niamh Ross sneaked over close to the ruck to score a try which she converted.

Final score: Annan Warriors 12 v West Ladies 27

Credit to the Warriors who worked hard in somewhat less favourable conditions & although were unlucky the number of errors proved costly.

Best on the day in attack were Nicole Mullen, Megan Cother & Kayleigh Warrick with Sword of the match going to Erin Ewing. In defence centres Eilidh Henderson, who was playing her 1^st game for a number of years, & Joanne Clark tackled well with Shield of the match going to flanker Ashley Clark.

With 3 games left the Warriors really need to pull out a win & for results to go their way.

Annan Starting team: E Jardine, M Brogan, M Cother, R Parker-Clevett ©, N Mullen, A Clark, E Ewing, K Warrick, N Ross, L Glendinning, E Szelag, E Henderson, J Clark, S McCracken, Z Mitchell

Subs used: J Warrick, A Cole, A Clash, A Pattullo, R Connell, K Morrison

Subs not used: J Graham