The Maxol-sponsored Carrick 1st XV travelled to Lisburn on Saturday 5th October and lost by 25 points to 22, the home side’s winning points coming with the last kick of the game. In an entertaining match, it was hard to decide at the end whether Lisburn’s last minute winning penalty was harsh on Carrick or just reward for the hard working home team. They were certainly dominant in the scrum and counter-rucked ferociously at the break-down. On the other hand, Carrick’s line-out worked smoothly and they always looked the more likely to break the gain line, with the backs running good lines and the loose forward trio, in which Curtis Rea was outstanding, providing great support as ball carriers. A significant problem again for Carrick was that they simply conceded too many penalties against a side whose goal-kicker was on top form.
The early exchanges were fairly even, with Lisburn taking the lead after two minutes with a penalty kick from out wide on the Carrick 10 metre line. The visitors replied three minutes later when Johnny Sheriff kicked a penalty awarded after a brief period of Carrick pressure in the Lisburn 22. The home side regained the lead after twelve minute with another penalty but, despite problems at the scrum for Carrick, neither side could claim to be dominating the match at this stage. However, after twenty minutes, Carrick took the lead for the first time with a well worked try. Following a penalty and an excellent touch find in the Lisburn 22 by Johnny Sheriff, Carrick caught and drove at the line-out, released to the backs and re-cycled quickly to allow Curtis Rea to find space on the left to go over for the try. Johnny Sheriff added the points to give Carrick a 10 points to 6 lead. Despite a couple of clean line breaks, Carrick were unable to add to their score in the first half and it was Lisburn who narrowed the gap to one point with a penalty on the half-hour mark.
The visitors started the second half strongly. A deep Johnny Sheriff kick forced Lisburn to scamble the ball into touch 10 metres out from their own line. From the line-out the ball was moved quickly to the backs and Jason Wady and Brian Alexander, coming in off his wing, both ran good lines to create space for Adie Moore to score in the right hand corner. The try was not converted but Carrick now led by 15 points to 9. The lead was short-lived though; first of all Lisburn narrowed the gap with a penalty and then, with a stroke of good luck they could scarcely believe, scored a try from half-way. Carrick were in possession just inside trhe Lisburn half when an attempted kick in behind the Lisburn defence landed straight into the arms of centre David Gilikson who ran over fifty metres to score. The try was not converted but the home side were back in the lead, ten minutes into the second half, by 17 points to 15. Carrick were at this stage starting to dominate territory, with some good line kicking by Johnny Sheriff and Aaron McKinney. However, they could not capitalise and it was the home side who extended their lead at the end of the third quarter with a well worked try. A strong drive off line-out possession in the Carrick 22 created space out wide as Carrick defenders were sucked in and the Lisburn right winger got in at the corner. Again the try was not converted, leaving the home side with a seven point lead. Carrick continued to have territorial advantage but it was not until close to the end of normal time that they made it count when Jason Wady went over for a try. Carrick moved the ball right from a ruck, with Curtis Rea again prominent as a ball-carrier, then switched left and Wady found space to go in at the corner. Johnny Sheriff added the points from right out on the touch-line to tie the scores at 22-22. Following the kick-off, play became bogged down around the Carrick 10 metre line, with the home side eventually winning a penalty. This was put over from a difficult angle to give Lisburn victory by 25 points to 22. Perhaps a little harsh on Carrick but, as in previous games, a bit more composure in possession by Carrick, and a lower penalty count, and a last minute penalty would not have saved Lisburn!
Carrick have a week off and then three home games in a row starting with Randalstown on 19th October.Hopefully this will give them a chance to get a winning run going.
The Carrick team which played Lisburn was:-
A. McKinney; A. Moore, J. Wady, J. Cullen, B. Alexander; J. Sheriff, K. Topping; A. Gibney, G. Baxter, R. McGonigle, A. Kincaid(Capt), C. Ferris, C. Rea, N. Marsden, C. Rogers.
