Carrick RFCs U17s staged a magnificent second half comeback on Saturday last after having trailed Portadown U17s bt 15 points to 7 at halftime.
A Gary Andrews try & conversion kept the Woodlawn boys in touch at the break after the home side has scored a hat trick of tries wide out.
With the visitors defence looking a bit shakey at times the Portadown outhalf spread the ball well to give his wide players the time & space to punish slack Carrick defence.
Carrick however to their credit stayed in the hunt when the forwards burst upfiel to provide quick ruck ball on the left.
Adam Lusty then put Andrews through the gap to surge over at the posts thus proiding the opportunity to add the conversion.
A terse reminder of the no frills back to basics game plan was delivered by caretaker coach Jimmy McTeggart at half time with the players and replacements responding tremendously from the kick off.
The Carrick scrum whih was starting to take control in the first half went from strength to strength with Dale Wilson producing a solid performance both at st plays & in the loose.
Mark Ferris was also starting to exert his influence on the game but it was the response of the rest of the pack which turned the tide.
Having forced Prtadown to within 5 metres of their line the tapped free kick was popped to the hard running Pete Magill to score.
The home team suddenly started to creak & coupled with Carrick pressure & their own lack of discipline things started to look bleak for the Chambers Park outfit.
Carrick soon after revisited the scene of the crime and following a series of scrums & drives by the forwards Mark Ferris crashed over for a try. Chambers converted and all of a sudden Portadown looked a beaten team.
More agony was piled on when from the kick off a sweeping pitch length movement produced Carricks fourth try and the try of the match.
John Magill took the kick off and burst through the first line of defence before linking with the supporting midfield backs, the lively flanker then tokk the inside pass and charged for the line providing a great off load for Gareth Higgins to touch down.
This was a true team performance from a group of player who have had a difficult last few weeks.Up front Wilson & Ferris were outstanding & in the backs Gary Chambers provided the main thrust.
Portadown also added a lot of value to the game but their lack of discipline and poor attitude towards their opponents & coach proved to be their undoing & rightly so having reaped what they had sewn.
Carrick should be very proud of their individual & team performances and use this victory as a go to lesson in how patience on the ball & eliminating mistakes can turn a game around.
