The Carrick 2nd XV lost their League encounter with Omagh II by 25 points to 8 at Tom Simms Memorial Park on Saturday 12 November. After getting off to a dreadful start, Carrick then had to play for sixty minutes with fourteen men because of an injury to centre Marcus Brush. With their scrum on top and a competitive line-out, Carrick stayed well in the game until mid-way through the second half when numbers began to tell. For Carrick,there were good performances from Adam Gibney, who tackled his heart out, Mark Patterson ,who was ever willing as a ball carrier , and second row partners Terry McCracken- whose inclusion raised the average age of the young Carrick team considerably -and Chris Ferris who competed well in the line-out and battled away in the loose.
CLICK HERE For 118 Pictures courtesy of Dale Loughridge.
Carrick got off to a dreadful start, concededing a try within two minutes when an Omagh attacker was allowed to virtually walk over the line. The try was converted. Once they had settled down, the home side began, if anything , to shade possession and territory. They were rewarded in the twentieth minute when winger Danny Flowers went over in the left-hand corner following a tap penalty. The try was not converted. Unfortunately, Marcus Brush suffered a shoulder injury in the play leading up to the try and had to leave the field so Carrick now faced a battle just to stay in the game. It is to their credit that Omagh did not seriously threaten their line for the remainder of the half, the only points coming from a penalty by the visitors. Thus, Omagh went into the break leading by 10 points to 5.
Omagh played most of the early stages of the second half in Carrick territory. They went further ahead twelve minutes into the half when Carrick were marched twent metres- although it looked more like twenty-five- for dissent at a penalty, bringing it within kicking range. Ten minutes later, the visitors got their second try when quick ruck ball allowed them to get numbers on the outside and score in the corner. This try was not converted and Carrick reduced the deficit with a Ricky Moore penalty five minutes later. However, the extra man was now begining to tell and turn-over ball gave Omagh their third try with the Carrick defence in some disarray. This try was conveted to leave the final score at 25 points to 8 in Omagh’s favour.
The Carrick team was:
R. Moore; G. Hughes, M. Brush, W. Anderson, D. Flowers; A. McIlroy, M. Patterson; A. Gibney, R. Higgins, J. Hagan(Capt), T. McCracken, C. Ferris, M. Patterson, J. Smith, N. Greenwood.
Carrick fixtures for Saturday 19th November are:
1st XV vs UUC, home
4th XV vs Antrim, away
5th XV vs Academy III, home
Under 19s vs Coleraine, home
