BISHOPTON v ANNAN U18 BOYS

Match Report from: Coach MURDO BRUTON

After a strong test the previous week and a few creases ironed out at training Annan U18s made the trip up the road to Bishopton to play their first league game of the season.

The lads arrived at a sunny Paisley in high spirits despite a reroute on the road as the venue was changed twenty minutes before they arrived.

Even with the warm weather and the change of venue this didn’t deter the team, a quick warm-up got them firing and they were ready for battle. Coin toss done, Annan kicked to Bishopton to start the game, this kick was duly chased and after three phases the strong work rate of Oban Nicolson showed as he turned the ball over and won possession for the Annan side.

Reset and ready to play the game on their terms, the lads set up two more phases of clean play working the forwards pods seeing Rohan Cother and Ellis Durston run some heavy lines this let Oban put the first score on the board for the team. A just reward for his steal earlier. Scott McCrosson added to the score sheet with the conversion only seven minutes into the game.

After the restart Annan proceeded to camp in the Bishopton twenty-two, not allowing the opposition to exit and after a few phases forced an error and were awarded a scrum. Domination in the scrum saw the Bishopton side pushed back unfortunately collapsing onto their number eight and he was injured from this.

Dropping to a side of twelve from the starting thirteen the referee asked Annan to match numbers to continue. Bishopton then answered with a well worked score in the corner and a conversion and followed with another a short time later making the score twelve each.

The Annan boys not at all deterred by this decided it was time to play some fast-running rugby from their backs they quickly pulled ahead with Scott McCrosson showing us some fancy footwork bringing the score up to 17-12

Following this score Bishopton attempted to answer, and the strong work rate of the forwards put paid to this attempt another of Bishopton’s players had to leave the field after being cleared from a ruck.

The game was restarted with a scum against Annan, but the skill of front rows Rohan Cother, Jack Vivers and Ellis Durston were too much for Bishopton and the fast flair of Harry Nordon saw Scott cross the line again to make it 22-12 to the visitors.

Unfortunately, after this score one of Bishopton’s players could no longer play and left the field bringing the team down to ten men and forfeiting the game and giving the referee no option but to abandon the game after only thirty minutes.

Great result on the road despite the reduced playing time.

The U18 Boys have a break and their next match is a big one, a home derby match against Newton Stewart on the 14th September.