CAMBUSLANG 1ST XV v ANNAN 1ST XV .

Match Report from: Neil “Muff” Moffat

On Saturday Annan made the trip up the M74 to play Cambuslang which would be the last of the 3pm kick offs before the clocks changed.

It was a dry day with a brisk headwind making things a tad chilly. Every encounter at Coats Park is always a battle and this was no different.

The first 20 mins were very competitive with neither team willing to back down. The only score in this period was a Bigham penalty to Annan.

After the 20 min mark the Annan’s floodgates opened conceding 3 tries before halftime. Only answered by another Bigham penalty. The visiting teams first up defence allowing the half-time score to end up 15 – 6.

After a mild exchange of words in the half time huddle, both Halliday and Haren score 10 mins into the second half which were both converted by Bigham.

With the score now 15 – 20 to Annan they seemed to revert to their first half defensive tactic of allowing Cambuslang’s strong runners an easy ride with the home side getting their bonus point 4 tries. 27 – 20 with 8 mins to go!

Annan’s forwards set piece had been solid all day which gave them a strong scrummaging platform to allow ‘man of the match’ Haren to score under the sticks, Bigham’s conversion made it 27 – 27.

The remaining minutes say both sides hold strong for the game to finish in a 27 – 27 draw.

As the day turned out Annan should be happy with picking up two valuable league points away from home.

The team now has a week off to regroup and concentrate on the challenge of Kilmarnock away on the 9th of November.

Starting Annan 1st XV: R Glass, K Warrick, R Hetherington, M Thompson, T Sloan, D Nordon, C Bell, S Haren, A Jancey (Capt), J Bigham, J Kirby, D Wyllie, A Halliday, J Park, J Whiteside

Annan 1st XV Subs (all used): M Crombie, N Coupland, B Jamieson, B Thomson