ANNAN WARRIORS v BISHOPTON LADIES.

Match Report from: Colin “Choc” Warrick

With the league part of the season completed prior to Christmas the Warriors took to the field for the 1^st time in 2023 against Bishopton Ladies in their 1^st game on the road to Murrayfield in the National Plate competition.

With the main pitch unavailable the game took place on the soft, claggy underfoot condition soft the 2^nd pitch which was sure to test the Ladies fitness, skill & match readiness.

With the Warriors playing away from the clubhouse & into the prevailing wing it was sure to be a testing 1^st half. From the kick off the visitors recovered the ball & pressed hard at the Warriors defence, good line speed & solid tackling from the Warriors repelled attacks time after time until the Warriors finally gained some possession & moved onto the attack with strong carries from the forwards & some good decision making retaining the ball.

From a ruck on halfway after a number of phases captain Nicole Barlow sniped from the base drawing the full back to feed wing forward Sarah Wyllie who romped home from 40m out.

Again from the kick off the Warriors failed to recover & Bishopton again had an extended period with the ball testing the Annan resolve.

On the half hour Annan again made headway into the visitors half & from a scrum the ball was fed wide for debutant full back Sarah Hunter to score her 1^st try in Warriors colours.

Almost straight from the kick off again increased their lead when from a failed kick to touch winger Morrison returned with interest for the ball to break to fullback Hunter who beat 2 defenders to race in from inside her own half to score he 2^nd which was converted by returning Warrior Mally McGeoch.

Half time score: Annan Warriors 17 v Bishopton Ladies 0

With the wind on their backs & confidence buoyed the Warriors kicked off determined to increase the try tally with points difference potentially crucial.

Annan’s bonus point try came fairly soon after half time when vice captain Ashley Clark who after a number of phases picked & surged over from a ruck, again converted by Mally McGeoch.

With the Warriors now firmly on top they took command & from a run within their own 40m centre Mally McGeoch broke down the blindside kicking long & controlling the rolling ball not once but twice with both right & left foot to dive over the line with footballing skills that wouldn’t look out of place at Galabank rather than Violetbank to score a belting try.

Not to be outdone captain Nicole Barlow soon added her name to the scoresheet with 2 tries both from a good distance out beating defenders with a dummy & swerve.

The final try coming right on the final whistle when full back Sarah Hunter was end of an offload from Rhianna Parker – Clevett following a break through a gap in the visitors defence.

Final Score: Annan Warriors 48 v Bishopton Ladies 0

All in all a good performance from the Warriors after a long break without playing & in testing conditions. Lots of good stuff on view on both sides of the ball but with still plenty scope for improvement for the remaining cup fixtures.

Best in the forwards were Hannah Paterson & Rhianna Parker – Clevett with Sarah Wyllie picking up forward of the match. In the backs Joanne Clark, & the returning Mally McGeoch played well with back of the match going to debutant Sarah Hunter

Starting XV: E Jardine, S Taylor, M Cother, H Paterson,  M Muir, R Parker – Clevett, S Wyllie, A Clark, N Barlow ©, L Glendinning, L Stevenson, M Brogan, J Clark, K Morrison, S Hunter

Replacements: L Moffat, L McGregor, J Graham, M McGeoch (All used)