You are viewing..

Est 1865

v’s Academy, H

The Maxol-sponsored Carrick 1st XV registered their fourth consecutive League win on Saturday 6 October when they defeated Academy by 41 points to 26 at Woodlawn. This keeps them joint top of Section 2 of the Qualifying League.

With a number of enforced changes, including Captain and No 8, Paul McIlrath, playing (very well) at loose-head prop, Carrick dominated the first half against Academy but allowed their occasional tendency to fall off in the second period to re-emerge. Having been down by 29 points to 11 at the break, Academy fought back to within three points of Carrick, at 29-26, before the home side closed the game out with two tries in the last few minutes.

The visitors took the lead with an unconverted try after seven minutes but Carrick hit back with their own unconverted try five minutes later, courtesy of winger Johnny Sheriff. They then took the lead on seventeen minutes when right winger Daryl Crothers went over. This try was also unconverted. Following a successfully converted Academy penalty after twenty minutes, Carrick extended their lead with a try by open-side John McDowell three minutes later. Again, the try was not converted. Academy again closed the gap with a penalty after twenty-six minutes but Carrick replied with a try by Terry McCracken on the half-hour. This time, Karl Wilkinson added the points. Then, on the stroke of half-time, Daryl Crothers grabbed his second try and again Karl Wilkinson converted. This left Carrick with a comfortable half-time lead of 29 points to 11.

Academy began the second half well, landing yet another penalty after two minutes and scoring tries on ten and thirteen minutes, the second of which was converted. This brought them to within three points of Carrick but, while they continued to dominate territory for much of the second half, they could not add to their score. Carrick began to re-assert control in the last ten minutes and made the game safe with Johnny Sheriff's second try in the fortieth minute. While this try was not converted, Karl Wilkinson added the points to Johnny Moffett's injury time try to take the Carrick total to forty-one.

Carrick's next match, on 20 October is away to joint League leaders( and conquerers of Bangor) CIYMS and they will need to perform for eighty minutes if they are to come away with the points.

The Carrick team against Academy was:

P.Saberton; D. Crothers, W. Anderson, J. Moffett, J. Sheriff; K. Wilkinson, G. Picken; P. McIlrath(Capt), R. Higgins, P.Greenaway, A. Kincaid, T. McCracken, R. Marsden, J.McDowell, C.Rankin.

Back

.Match Report, 06-10-07