In an encounter in which the lead changed hands on a number of occasions, and Carrick out-scored their opponents by four tries to three, they were eventually beaten by 28 points to 25. Having led by 20 points to 10 at half-time , Carrick then surrendered 15 points in the first ten minutes of the second half to leave Grosvenor leading by 25 points to 20. Carrick then got back on level terms after twenty minutes of the second half but went behind to a penalty with twelve minutes remaing and, from then on, the home side took control territorially and did not allow the visitors to exert any real pressure.
After exchanging penalties in a first quarter, which the home side dominated in terms of possession, Carrick took the lead after twenty minutes with a try by Andy McKeen following a well timed run by Aaron Mckinney. Some slack defending then let the Grosvenor No 8 in for a try following a scrum on the Carrick 22. The csuccessful conversion put the home side in the lead by 10 points to 8.Then ,after thirty-three minutes, Carrick regained the lead when Karl Quinn forced his way over following a line-out catch and drive and a well-timed pass from Aaron McKinney. The try was not converted but the visitors extended their lead when, following a break-out from their own 22, they won a penalty in the Grosvenor half and, following the kick to touch, set up a series of phases close to the line from which David McKeen forced his way over. The try was converted by Johnny Sheriff to give Carrick a 20 points to 10 half-time lead.
The opening ten minutes of the second half were disastrous for Carrick. They conceded a penalty in the first minute and then two minutes later a try a kick rwas run back at them and they got caught with their defence out of alignment.Then, a few minutesater, a cruel bounce of the ball following a Grosvenor kick out of their own 22 allowed their left winger to gather and race in from half-way. This left the home side in the lead by 25 points to 20.After twenty minutes of the half a series of Carrick picks and drives close to the Grosvenor line ended with Aaron McKinney going over fpllowing a well timed pass by Johnny Sheriff. The try was not converted to leave the sides level at 25-25. Ten minutes later Grosvenor took the lead with a penalty and then successfully penned Carrick inside their own half for the remainder of the game to end up as( just about) deserving winners.
It is back to League action next week when Carrick play host to Donaghadee at Woodlawn.
The Carrick team against Grosvenor was:
A. McKinney; K. Quinn, J. Wady, W. Anderson, C. Jordan; J. Sheriff, M. Patterson(G. Picken); D. McKeen, R. Higgins, P.Greenaway, C. Rea, S. Currie, M. Irwin(C. Ferris), W.Johnston, A. McKeen.
The 3rd XV recorded their first win of the season in hammering Holywood by 57 points to 3. Kurtis Gilmore helped himself to a hat-trick, David Kirkpatrick scored two tries and the others came from Alan Haire, Jamesy Porter and Chris Wallace. Kris James kicked seven conversions and a penalty. “Man of the match” was shared among David Kirkpatrick, Gareth McKeown, Mark Davidson and Chris Wallace.
The 5th XV won a bruising encounter away to Donaghadee III by 24 points to 17.The tries came from Brian Hamilton, Craig Brazier and Craig wallace. Alan Waide kicked three conversions and a penalty. “Man of the match” was shared between Brian Hamilton and Craig Wallace.
The Under 19s lost by 39 points to nil away to Dromore but the Youth sides were all victorious in their away matches with Ballymena. The Under 17s won by 19 points to nil, the Under 15s by 51 points to 5 and the Under 13s by 47 points to nil. The minis travelled to Coleraine where they acquitted themselves superbly.
On Sunday, the Ladies, with four players making their debuts, travelled to Malahide for their opening League game which they lost by 22 points to nil.
The fixtures for Saturday 2 October are:
1st XV vs Donaghadee, League,home
2nd XV vs Portadown II, League, away
3rd XV vs Monaghan, League, home
5th XV vs Civil Service II, League, home
Youth teams home to Ballynahinch in the League
Minis have training
On Sunday 3 October, the Ladies are at home to belfast Harlequins in the League
