Greenock Telegraph | Sport | Wanderers find it unlucky 13

Friday, 9th January, 2009

Published: Wednesday, 28th November, 2007 12:30

Wanderers find it unlucky 13

Annan 22, Greenock Wanderers 8

IT WAS unlucky 13 for Greenock Wanderers on Saturday as they plummeted to their 13th straight league defeat this season at Violetbank in the Borders.

With nine games left, albeit eight of them at home, it looks like time is up for Wanderers in the top division of the National Leagues, and the likelihood is that they will be playing their rugby in the Second Division next season.

The story of Saturday’s defeat was much the same as previous weeks, with plenty of effort being expended but little in the way of penetration. The 22-8 score line flattered the hosts, who sit proudly in third top spot, but they fully deserved their victory.

The game was played on a gluepot of a surface, but an entertaining match was enjoyed by the local support.

The scoring started as early as the 12th minute when a sweeping move from the Annan threequarter line allowed man of the match Johnny Callaghan some space on the right wing. He showed the Wanderers defence a clean pair of heels and went over in the corner.

Wanderers’ response was swift, and skipper Chris Clark found space through the midfield channel to touch down near the right wing and level the score at 5-5 after 15 minutes.

This signalled the start of a purple patch for Wanderers, who put together a decent spell of pressure and mixed up their game which kept the hosts guessing. As has happened so often this season, though, the locals could not convert pressure into point. It was Annan‘s prolific goal kicker, Niall Smith, who slotted the penalty that separated the teams at half-time.

Annan took control of the game in the second half and did the basics well, while the Wanderers effort floundered in the mud. In 53 minutes a fine forward drive led to prop Stevie Kelly touching down and, 10 minutes later, Callaghan again took advantage of another fine backs move to breeze in at the corner.

Smith converted both opportunities and, at 22-5, Annan were out of sight.

Wanderers stuck to their task and toiled away but a lack of penetration when in attacking positions meant that there was to be no comeback. Full back Stuart McTavish added three consolation points from a late penalty to complete the scoring but by then the match was over as a contest.

President Donnie Cunningham said: ”The likelihood of escaping relegation obviously gets less with every defeat.

“There is still hope because of the amount of home games to come, but there would need to be radical improvement across the board if we are to string together the number of victories required to ensure safety.

“We’ll keep at it and try and get that first win and hopefully build on that.”

Wanderers are at home on each of the next three Saturdays and start this series of matches this Saturday against Royal High/Corstorphine.

Wanderers: S McTavish; D Watson, J Smith, C Clark{C}, A Knox M Coyle, R Lavelle, M Rodger, M McDonald, J McKenna, C Robb, L Scully, K Murray, J Cunningham, D Clayton.

Wanderers are sponsored by National Semiconductor [UK] Ltd.

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