GREENOCK WANDERERS U16 XV v ANNAN U16 TIGERS XV.

Match Report from: Coach Andy Render

Annan U16s travelled to Greenock to start their Mitsubishi Galant Conference B league campaign and produced a lively all round display to secure victory on the day.

Due to a shortage of experienced front row players the league points had been conceded earlier in the week and a game of uncontested scrums and lineouts was played in very warm conditions.

Annan started brightly taking the game to their hosts through some positive driving play from Aitken Render ably supported by the rest of the forwards. From this pressure Annan opened the scoring when John Mackay pick up from short range and drove over for an unconverted try.

This stung Greenock into action and they responded with attacks of their own which despite valiant defence earned a score which was well converted to take the lead. All of this in the first 10 minutes – Game on!

Annan continued to take the game forward and had some good phases of continuity and interplay between forwards and backs. Their defensive line speed was also much improved on their outing last week and this was putting pressure on the Greenock backs and leading to mistakes. Annan secured two more scores in the first half through second row Elliott Hepburn and back row Callum Kirk both of which were superbly converted by Fraser McMillan who kicked well all day. Half time arrived at 19-7 to the visitors and the coaches urged them on the continue their strong display.

From the restart Annan secured another two tries – Euan Watson burst through the centre of midfield to touch down which was then followed by perhaps the pick of Annan’s scores when Hepburn was on the end of some great continuity and dynamism to drive over. 2 more conversions from McMillan and an unconverted try by Greenock made the score 33-12 with 15 mins to go.

Playing 2 periods of 35 mins is new to most of the Annan squad this year and despite the hard work done preseason the extra playing time and high temperatures (and early start on Sunday morning) were beginning to catch up with them entering the final 10 minutes.

Greenock urged on by their coaches produced some strong running play as Annan lost concentration and scored three quick fire scores all unconverted to make the last minutes quite tense. However the lads saw out the final play and secured their win (although no league points to show for it).

All played well and it would be churlish to name any players as better than others, however the final ten minutes give the coaches things to work on ahead of their next league game at home to Newton Stewart on 9th September, including potentially developing some front row ability which would allow the team to challenge for league points.

Thanks to all parents who assisted with transport to Greenock as well as for the hospitality shown by our hosts.

Team: I Swan, J Mackay, J Cairns, D Templeton, E Hepburn, M Coupland, C Kirk, A Render (C), L Stevenson, F McMillan, C Stainthorpe, E Watson, J Glendinning, B Latimer, R Bell

Replacements (both used):  R Byers, J Arthur