The Maxol-sponsored Carrick 1st XV were beaten by by 20 points to 13 away to useful looking University of Ulster, Coleraine side in a League match on Saturday 18 September. This was one of those games which, with a little bit of luck, and greater discipline, Carrick could have won. In the event, they let UUC get too far in front in the first half and didn’t quite have the patience to turn their second half dominance of territory and possession into the required points.
The game started late because the referee was delayed in getting there and was played in heavy rain virtually throughout. Carrick made the worst possible start when a loose kick was run back by UUC and some very slack defending allowed their winger to cross unopposed The try was converted to put the home side 7 points up after just two minutes. This was followed by a piece of indiscipline which saw the visitors marched back ten metres at a penalty which the UUC kicker duly converted to extend their lead to 10 points.Then , with twelve minutes gone, UUC went over in the corner following a strong catch and drive from a line-out close to the Carrick line.
This try was also converted. The home side continued to dominate, paricularly at the break-down which meant Carrick had little good attacking ball.
However, it was not until injury time that UUC added to their score with a second penalty to give them a 20 points to nil lead at the break.
Carrick put in a much improved performance in the second half, with the set piece working much better and a more determined effort in the loose. They reduced the deficit with a Johnny Sheriff penalty after five minutes and began to exercise some control in terms of territory and possession. The fact that the game was disrupted by several long injury stoppages did not help the visitors’ continuity and it was only after a long period camped close to the UUC line that Carrick finally got a try when David McKeen forced his way over after the half-hour.
Johnny Sheriff added the conversion points During the build-up to the try UUC conceded at least half a dozen penalties and it was surprising that the referee did not seem to see the need for a card! The visitors continued to dominate possession but the street-wise UUC managed to keep them playing outside the “red zone” for most of the remaining time and all Carrick had to show for their efforts was another Johnny Sheriff penalty after thirty-six minutes.There was a sense though that, if Carrick had just shown a little more patience when in possession, the home side’s defence could have been breached in the lengthy period of injury time and they could have come away with more than just a losing bonus point.
This was a disappointing performance by Carrick but, with a number of players making their first League appearances of the season, things should improve. They meet newly promoted Grosvenor in the Junior Cup on Saturday 25 September and will need to try to put in a performance over the full eighty minutes this time.
The Carrick team was:
A. McKinney; C. Jordan, J. Wady, M. McDowell, M. Gilmore; J. Sheriff, M. Patterson; D. McKeen, G. Baxter, P. Greenaway, S. Currie(Capt), C. Rea, N. Marsden, C. Ferris, A. McKeen.
The Carrick 2nd XV lost away to Ballymoney II by 35 points to 11. The Carrick try came from Alan Haire, with Luke Totten and Glen Picken each kicking a penalty. Carrick played most of the second half with fourteen players and the final ten minutes with just thirteen. During this period, Ballymoney ran in 20 points.
The 3rd XV also lost away to Ballymoney III, by 13 points to 5,with the loss of Adam Moore at half-time making life very difficult for them. The Carrick try was scored by Kris James.
The 4th XV beat CIYMS IV at home by 25 points to 10.The tries came from Craig Lloyd Neil Snowling and Marty Reid. Alan Waide converted two and Chris Auld dropped two goals. David Moore was awarded “man of the match”.
The 5th XV defeated PSNI II, also at home, by 22 points to 7. The try scorers were Stephen Martin, Michael Irwin, Neal McGookin and Ronnie Curry, with Stephen Martin converting one. Chris Hagan was awarded “man of the match”.
The Carrick Under 19s lost at home to Randalstown by 10 points to 7, the try coming from Captain Nathan Greenwood, with Reece Hamilton converting.
The Youth sides travelled to Portadown where the Under 17s won by 22 points to 7, the Under 15s ;lost by 30 points to 5 and the Under 13s won by 24 points to 10.Mark Ferris from the Under 17s has been selected to play for Ulster Youth against Connacht.
The fixtures for 25 Sepember are:
1st XV vs Grosvenor, Junior Cup, away
3rd XV vs Holywood II, League,away
4th XV vs Academy III, League, home
5th Xv vs Donaghadee III, League, away
Youths away to Ballymena
Minis away to Coleraine (need to be there for 10am)
On Sunday 26 September, the Carrick Ladies are away to Malahide
On Saturday 25 September,the Mini Section are having a Quiz Night in the Club at 7.30pm. The cost is £5 per head and this includes a light supper.
