“Nuff said”, With TVs big two of “Strictly” & “ X Factor” topping the Saturday evening ratings it is Carrickfergus U15s who continue to be the Saturday morning star attraction.
With yet another half century plus of points for & another nil against, the NK Fencing sponsored Carrick boys this time put Kilraghts Road side Ballymoney to the sword.
Most pleasing for the coaches & management is the fact that this side is gelling together as a unit who are capable of controlling the game plan & adapting their style according to conditions & opposition alike.
It was indeed conditions that proved difficult allied to a spirited, determined & fairly physical challenge from the home side.
Carrick exerted pressure straight from the kickoff forcing Money back to 10 metres from their line, the forwards put the squeeze on & were unlucky not to force their way over Possession was retained & for Sam Wallace to receive going right, the 10 slipped between two defender to dot down under the posts & then convert his try.HERE
Ballymoney defended strongly and it was several minutes before a Matthew Fisher charge yielded a second try.
Carrick then maintained possession & territory for some time, a series of scrums & lineouts in the home 22 allowed the visiting forwards to mix & match through a series of phases. This sapped a lot of energy from the home side & the ever willing ball carrier that is Corey Kelly crashed over from close range twice in succession for a brace of tries.
At half time the score was 0-22 in favour of Carrick with the promise of more to come.
If ever a hammer blow was delivered it was straight from Ballymoneys second half kickoff, James Carson received confidently & stood strong for the Carrick pack to drive him to half way, John Stewart peeled from the maul on the blind side to break up the touchline. The mobile hooker outstripped the home winger & cover defence to score under the posts, Wallace added the conversion.
Fisher who was one of several Carrick victims of some defensive swinging arms shrugged off a bloody nose & several home defenders to score, Wallace again obliged with the conversion.
Carrick were now totally in control & the Cody Surgeoner happy hour was in full swing.
The oft times under rated blindside was in a rich vein of form with some excellent fielding & a display of side stepping & acceleration that left a host of Money tacklers clutching at thin air.
Dickey was at this time exhorting the emptying of the bench but the ever cautious
“Eddie O” opted for the drip feed high impact approach introducing the pocket rocket that is Jordan Devenney.
Dickey countered with Jamie Craig who within two minutes had a warning from the ref and a try under his belt.
Sam Wallace who was showing some good game management by mixing the game with passing running & kicking struck twice with two tries before Captain Jake Porter capped a hard working morning with a score which Wallace converted.
Once again the strength of the bench was evidenced with replacements adding to the overall display & result.
This was another league win built on solid set piece scrummaging & a strong lineout well led by John Turner. Contact skills are now reaching a high standard with ball being recycled cleanly & quickly.
Next week Carrick play Malone & as “Eddie O” says the next game is the biggest one, preparation continues on Wednesday night at 7pm sharp.
CRFC U15s – M Best D McDowell E Sloan J Porter (capt) M Whitall S Wallace C Cambridge J Carson J Stewart C Kelly J Turner D McBurney C Surgeoner J Gardener M Fisher R Magill J Devenney A Rea J Craig A Campbell T Clarke.
Scorers – S Wallace T3 Cons4 M Fisher T2 C Kelly T2 J Stewart T J Craig T J Porter T
