The Maxol-sponsored Carrick 1st XV moved seven points clear at the top of the Kukri Conference League 2 with a 10 points to nil win over Ballymena II at Eaton Park on Thursday evening. This League, which involves the 2nd XVs of AIL teams, runs in parallel with the Qualifying League and results in the latter also count in the Conference League. Carrick’s win over Ballymena means they have now beaten all of the AIL 2nd XV teams in Section 2 of the Conference League although this includes a walk-over against Queen’s who were unable to field team back in September.
The match against Ballymena was a hard-fought affair with defences on top for much of the game. Indeed, going into the final quarter the game had “nil all” draw written all over it. Then a well struck penalty by Luke Whittal put Carrick ahead and a moment of brilliance by scrum-half Conor Cambridge ten minutes later produced the only try of the game. Ballymena tried hard in the closing stages but could not break down a solid Carrick defence. For Carrick, Conor Cambridge had a good all round game at scrum-half as did centre Ryan Bailey while Peter Simpson on the right wing was did a very good job in chasing kicks. Back-rowers Ryan McGonigle and Andy McKeen were again prominent both as ball carriers and in defence.
The first half was a fairly dour affair and the greasy ball meant a high error count from both sides. Also,continuity was not helped by the large number of injury breaks. Although the Carrick scrum was for the most part under pressure, apart from a strike against the head by hooker Gareth McKeown, they managed a fair share of possession, competing well at the break-down. Line breaks by Luke Whittal and Ryan McGonigle could have produced something but wayward passes and turn-overs in the tackle meant the moves came to nothing. As for Ballymena, the threat posed by their backs in the closing stages of the game makes one wonder why the spent a fair part of the first half kicking aimlessly.
The third quarter carried on as the first half had ended, with defences on top and both sides struggling to create scoring opportunities. With twenty minutes remaining a break by Ryan Bailey, as he ran back a Ballymena 22 drop-out, and illegal activity by Ballymena at the break-down resulted in a penalty to Carrick on the 22 which Luke Whittal duly converted to produce the first score of the game. Ballymena then missed with a penalty opportunity of their own from forty metres out and shortly afterwards conceded the penalty, following good work by Johnny McIlwaine at the break-down, which was to lead to the only try of the game. Luke Whittal put the ball into touch on the home side’s 22 and, when the ball came back from the line-out, Conor Cambridge spotted a gap as the line-out broke up, went straight through and beat a covering defender on his way to score to the left of the posts. Luke Whittal converted to give Carrick a 10 points to nil lead. In the closing stages, Ballymena mounted a series of attacks but the visitors defended well, including a great tackle by Reece Hamilton when the Ballymena left winger seemed about to go clear. Despite a lengthy period of injury time, the visitors held out fairly comfortably to win by 10 points to nil.
On Saturday 14th November it is back to Qualifying League action for Carrick when they entertain Donaghadee and will be hoping for a result similar to that achieved against Ballymoney, the other side demoted from Section 1 at the end of last season.
The Carrick team against Ballymena was:-
A. McKinney; P. Simpson, R. Hamilton, R. Bailey B. Alexander; L. Whittal, C. Cambridge; D. McKeen. G. McKeown, J. McIlwaine, A. Kinkaid, C. Rodgers, A. McKeen, R. Marsden, R. McGonigle.
2nd XV v Omagh 3s
On a blustery and wet afternoon Carrickfergus 2nd XV took another giant leap on their Junior 2 Odyssey. On a day when the 1sts had no game the pressure was on for the 2’s against the team sitting 3rd in the league and captain Marc Gordon led his troops into battle in search of a bonus point win in a quest to challenge Ballynahinch 4’s at the summit of the league table.
Playing into a stiff breeze in the first half Carrick took the lead against the run of play when turnover ball was shipped wide and great interplay in the backs saw Michael Black release Ross Crymble who sold numerous dummies, including a ‘Dawsonesque’ overhead basketball pass before touching down for the try. “Wee Sam” Wallace nonchalantly added the extra 2.
There is a reward on offer for the identification of the sniper who took out “The Old Man” Wilkie ahead of this move and reduced the average playing age of the team by 5 years……or is that a reward for the sniper (allegedly Sam Wallace is helping with enquiries).
With the Carrick forwards beginning to dominate in the scrum and loose (including a barnstorming run by Robbie Williams (not the singer…the rugby player) and the backs looking extremely dangerous with ball in hand, progress was made into the Omagh half, where, from a scrum outside the 22’ a silky set piece move released Kyle “the whippet” Jordan who rounded 3 defenders to place the ball under the posts. Again “Wee Sam” slotted the conversion.
Carrick came under huge territorial pressure in the last 15 minutes of the half and the spirited Omagh side were rewarded for their efforts with a penalty and a push over try from a lineout which was excellently converted form the touchline. Half time score: Carrick 14 Omagh 10
With the wind subsiding in the second half, halfbacks Kenny Topping and Sam Wallace used what was left of the elements to push Carrick deep into Omagh territory at every opportunity however indiscipline and inaccuracies made for a deeply frustrating 3rd quarter as penalty after penalty allowed Omagh to escape their own half without conceding.
With time passing and the bonus point looking less likely Carrick kicked back into action, the forwards again carried strongly with Neil Marsden and Nathan Greenwood to the fore, the backs again began to look dangerous and “the whippet” got himself on the end of a move that saw him show a clean pair of heals to the Omagh defence and touch down under the sticks. Wee Sam stroked over a third from 3.
With 10 minutes to play the message came onto the pitch to go for the bonus point and when an Omagh attack broke down on the Carrick 22 the backs set off, the ball was passed through 3 sets of hands and came to our very own “Flying Scotsman” Shaun Hardie who did his best to pass the ball but found Omagh defenders taking dummies that he hadn’t even thrown… this went on for 50 metres before Shaun eventually fell over with exhaustion fortunately just as he reached the line. Bonus point in the bag!! Wee Sammy….you guessed it… 4 from 4.
With time almost up and the referee doing his best to give the visitors a consolation, another Omagh attack came to an abrupt end, probably the result of another Jack “the terrier” Millar tackle, his 100th of the day! The ball was transferred out to the backline and found “Mr utility” Reece Berry who smoked the defence and cruised in under the posts. This time from “wee Sam” a drop goal….5 from 5, a great days work. Final Score: Carrick 35 Omagh 10
All 18 players deserve credit for this win, for their effort and commitment throughout, a great result against a very strong Omagh side, next stop on the Odyssey – CIYMS away Weds 11th @ 7.30pm.
The Carrick team against Omagh was:-
R Williams; R Higgins; J Graham; M Gordon; D Ferris; N Marsden; J Miller; N Greenwood; K Topping; K Wilkinson; K Jordan; J Wady; S Hardie; R Crymble; S Wallace; E Peacock; R Berry; M Black.
Grim Reapers v Armoy
In a scrappy and often heated exchange with the visiting Armoy team the young guns in the Carrick Reapers side pushed to cement a 17-0 win. As a consequence two players where awarded “Man of the match” Chris Taylor & James Simmonds.
Other results
The 3rd XV went to Newry 2s and won 10-22.
The Youth Section travelled to Virginia and all had typically hard fought matches.
Virginia U18s 32 v Carrick U18s 12
Virginia U16s 21 v Carrick U16s 15
The Virginia v Carrick Under 14s match was abandoned just before half time due to injury to Carrick player Thomas Morrison. After assessment at Cavan Hospital Thomas was discharged . A big thanks to Darren Wady and Bill Crymble for looking after Thomas.
