MARRESS had no answer to their Glasgow Accies counterparts as they were comprehensively outplayed at New Anniesland.

Accies ran in five tries without reply to leapfrog Greenock into second in the table, while Marress remain fourth after slipping to a third successive defeat – although with this being only the visitors’ third competitive match of 2014 lack of match practice may have been an issue.

The game was only five minutes old when the Accies forwards mauled over on the right for the opening try, which went unconverted.

The visitors rallied and hit back through a Craig Williams penalty, but a series of penalties for the hosts gave them the field position they needed to claim their second try on the quarter hour, which was converted this time.

They moved further in front at 17-3 with a carbon copy of the game’s opening try shortly after the half hour.

Again the hosts presented their opponents with a kickable penalty chance in the ensuing minutes, which Stuart Tracey duly capitalised upon to reduce the arrears to 17-6, but there was no question that they were good value for their lead at the interval.

Despite the home side’s on-field dominance, the visitors knew an early try in the second half would get them right back in the contest, and they had enough try line pressure in the early minutes to score one. But the home defence held firm and drove the visitors back, and it was confirmed they had won the battle when Williams opted to kick for goal with a penalty on the Accies 22.

Williams’ kick failed to find the target however and that marked the end of the visitors’ chances, with the hosts adding two further tries to bring up the bonus point and take the match out of reach.

Marress could have had at least a consolation try to show for their efforts as they forced numerous penalties and good attacking positions in the closing stages, but the tone of proceedings was irrevocably set by now and like their 1st XV colleagues they were destined to be disappointed.

Marress are next due to entertain Whitecraigs, while Irvine are also in league action at home to Helensburgh.