GARIOCH LADIES v ANNAN WARRIORS.

Match Report from: Colin Warrick

The Warriors travelled to Inverurie for their longest away trip of the season to face Garioch Ladies.

After an overnight stop at Dundee, the Ladies travelled the remainder of the way after good nights sleep & hearty breakfast.

The game kicked off in chilly conditions but with the sun shining, with the Warriors keen to make their mark in the game.

Both teams pushing each other to the limit in defence with both teams holding out time after time.

However in one of Annan’s attacks, prop Eilidh Jardine barged over the line only for the referee to deem the ball had been held up, if only there was a TMO.

Half time score: Garioch Ladies 0 v Annan Warriors 0

Knowing the need to keep the pressure up Annan retook the field keen to continue their high pressure, intense performance.

The early parts of the 2nd half went by in similar fashion as the first but on the 10 minute mark Garioch broke the Annan line to race away to score.

Buoyed by this the Garioch Ladies pressed further and soon reaped their rewards with stand off moving the ball wide to get the 2nd score.

This seemed to kick the Warriors into life and from the kick off went on the charge with forwards Kayleigh Warrick, Nadine Barnes & Linden Moffat leading the way. Going close before centre Chelsea Barnes crashed over.

From the kick off again the Warriors retrieved the ball & went deep into Garioch territory with the ball being shipped wide for replacement winger Jennifer McGregor to score in the corner.

Going into the last 5 minutes, with the score level, Annan pressed to get the breakthrough only for the ball to appear surprisingly on the Garioch side of a ruck and was cleared to the winger who did the rest to score.

The game played out with Annan fighting to the end trying to draw level once more, only for the final whistle to go.

Final score: Garioch Ladies 17 v Annan Warriors 10

Another good performance from the Warriors who probably didn’t deserve to loose a tight game.

The effort, workrate & commitment to the cause from all 17 players couldn’t be faulted and with the rub of the green & peep of the referees whistle, the score could have quite easily been the other way round.

Hard to pick the best in both forwards & backs but awards went to Nadine Barnes & Jen McGregor.

On to next week which sees the Warriors welcome Heriots Ladies to Violetbank for the last home game of the league phase.

Annan team: E Jardine, M Alexander, J Dalgliesh, N Barnes, M Muir, A McWilliam, L Glendinning, K Warrick, N Barlow (c), M McGeoch, J Stewart, C Barnes, C O’Connell, K Barlow, K Taylor

Replacements: L Moffat and J McGregor

Teams before the match. Photo thanks to Garioch Rugby