The 1st XV travelled to Cumnock for their first match of 2025 and also their first match since the defeat at Lenzie back on the 14th December.

The players and coaches knew it was going to be a tough match as Cumnock in recent years have a great record at home.Coupled with the fact that the Annan 1st XV have very poor record on artificial pitches with 1 win in 10 attempts. At  Cumnock they had lost the previous 4 away matches.

Unfortunately for the visitors after 80 minutes that record was extended to 5 loses.

Similar to the Lenzie away match, it was a case of home side taking their chances well and Annan just not taking theirs

Coupled with defensive lapses from the visitors and a decent defensive effort from the hosts, the match ran away from Annan and Cumnock ran out deserving winners.

Annan missed too many first up tackles, letting Cumnock time and time again get over the gain line, from which the hosts ran in numerous tries.

When Annan did have possession in the Cumnock half, the Annan players did not manage to capitalize when in the red zone by not taking the right options and suffering from the old white line fever.

The final score did flatter Cumnock a little bit as Annan fell away in last 15 minutes. Up until then it had been a fairly close contest. But Annan were always playing catch up rugby.

For the record it was just 12-0 at half time and by the 65th minute it was 19-7 when Ryan Glass crashed over from a short distance. Josh Whiteside with conversion.

With Annan chasing the game and with about 15 to go, Annan threw caution to the wind but an interception try on the halfway line took the small glimmer of getting something from this match away.

Annan did score another try with a scrumhalf sneak from Josh Whiteside with about 5 to go but that’s as good as it got.

It ended 40-12 to the hosts

All in all a disappointing loss that drops Annan down one place to 5th but with with only 7 points separating 4th to 8th, any points over the next few matches could prove useful come season end and the difference between a top half and a bottom half finish.

Finishing in the relegation spots looks unlikely with Bishopton and Cambuslang struggling but with 35 points or so usually the safe marker, Annan still need a few more points to feel safe!

Picking up those points this Saturday could not have been harder though as Annan host league leaders Kilmarnock at Violetbank. It will be another tough match and Annan will need to front up better or it could turn out to be a long day

For the record, James Kirby made his 150th appearance for the Annan 1st XV in this match since his debut match back in 2015. Top effort James!

Starting 1st XV: 1. Ryan Glass 2. Kieran Warrick (C) 3. Sean Armstrong 4. Frazer Hope 5. Mason Watret 6. Stewart Livingston 7. Wallace Alexander 8. Ryan Hetherington 9. Josh Whiteside (VC) 10. Fraser McMillan 11. Ben Latimer 12. James Kirby 13. Aitken Render 14. Ewan Campbell 15. Aaron Carmichael

Replacements (all used): 16. Juan Phyfer 17. Willie Gray 18. Johnny Callaghan 19. Callum Smith