Carrick Results...
The Maxol-sponsored Carrick 1st XV produced probably their best performance of the
season in defeating CIYMS by 32 points to 16 at Woodlawn on Saturday 7 March. This
not only avenged the heavy away loss to CI in October but effectively ended the Belfast
side's title hopes while keeping Carrick in the hunt should Bangor and Ballyclare
slip up. Played in fairly damp conditions, this was an entertaining match with a
great one to fifteen performance by the Carrick team. Stuart Currie, who had a superb
game in the second row, was adjudged "man of the match " but there were at least
five other contenders. The foundations for victory were laid by the forwards , all
of whom contributed as ball carriers and tacklers , as well as in their specialist
roles. After a shaky start, the scrum was solid and Carrick completely dominated
the line-out, with great performances from Stuart Currie and Andy Kincaid. The back
row trio of Matt Hadden, Andy McKeen and Paul McIlrath worked tirelessly and were
primarily responsible for Carrick getting on top in the contact area. In the loose,
Andy Kincaid had another storming game, and, alongside Paul McIlrath, is becoming
a major presence in this Carrick side. Front row men Paul Greenaway ,David McKeen
and Glen Baxter carried well and put in some big tackles. At half-back, captain Glen
Picken ran operations superbly and his kicking out of hand was first class. Karl
Wilkinson also kicked well and his goal kicking was a major factor in the Carrick
victory, with him contributing twelve points with the boot as well as scoring the
final try. Aaron McKinney was again an influential figure as a decision maker and
defensive organiser while he and fellow centre Karl Quinn provided a solid mid-field
defence. The back three of Paul Saberton, Willie Shaw and, particularly, full-back
Michael Gilmore were solid under the high ball and kicked and chased well.
The visitors started strongly, playing with the breeze at their backs, and dominated
the early exchanges. They deservedly took the lead after ten minutes with a penalty
and went further ahead after seventeen minutes with another well struck kick. Carrick
though were begining to get parity in most areas and the visitors were not allowed
to make the most of their wind advantage. They did, however, extend their lead after
thirty minutes with another penalty. Five minutes later, Carrick got right back into
the game with a well taken try by Aaron McKinney. A well placed chip by Karl wilkinson
was taken on by Matt Hadden and, when the ball went loose in the tackle, McKinney
picked up and out-paced the defence to score. In what was to be his only miss of
the day, Karl Wilkinson could not convert from a difficult angle and into a strong
breeze. Carrick were now starting to control the game but there was no further scoring
before half-time which was reached with the visitors leading by 9 points to 5.
CI again started well after the break but the excellent Carrick defence held up well
and the home side moved within one point when Wilkinson kicked a penalty after four
minutes and took the lead two minutes later with another excellent strike from the
out-half from the CI ten metre line. Carrick were now begining to exert pressure
on their opponents and, after twenty minutes of the half, extended their lead when
Paul Greenaway touched down after a series of 5-metre scrums. Karl Wilkinson added
the conversion points. CI came back though and only a great tackle by Andy Kincaid
prevented them scoring on twenty-five minutes. However, Carrick put the game more
or less out of their reach with their third try after thirty minutes. This came from
a strong surge off the back of a scrum by Paul McIlrath who passed to Andy McKeen
and the open side went in from thirty metres out to score near the posts. Wilkinson
again converted. The visitors did fight back and were rewarded with a try when the
Carrick mid-field defence was breached for the only time in the game. The try was
converted to leave Carrick leading by 25 points to 16 with five minutes to go. Any
slight hope CI had was ended when Karl Wilkinson fly-kicked a loose ball just outside
the visitors' 22, gathered and went over near the posts. He added the conversion
to leave Carrick victorious by 32 points to 16.
This was a great team performance by Carrick and they will go into next week's encounter
with Lisburn confident of avenging the narrow away defeat in mid-October.
The Carrick team against CI was:
M.Gilmore; W. Shaw, K. Quinn, A. McKinney, P. Saberton; K. Wilkinson, G. Picken(Capt);
D. McKeen, G. Baxter, P. Greenaway, A. Kincaid, S. Currie, M. Hadden, A. McKeen,
P. McIlrath.
The 2nd XV were away to Portadown IV on Friday night and, for the second week in
a row, the referee did not turn up. With a Portadown referee in charge, Carrick won
by 34 points to nil. Try scorers were Daryl Crothers, who got two, and Craig Brazier.
Man of the match, Johnny Sheriff, kicked 19 points.
The Carrick 3rd XV defeated UUC II by 48 points to 7 but the 4ths went down by 17
points to 10 to Malone IV. Gareth Clarke and Gary Hunter got the Carrick tries for
the fourths.
The youth section were in the 1st round of the cup against local rivals Larne. The
U18s won 19 pts to 7 pts, with scores from Matt Ginn, Chris Rodgers, Daniel Beggs
and 2 conversions from Luke Whittal. The U16s lost narrowly 10 pts to 6 pts while
the U14s won convincingly 31 pts to 5 pts.
The mini section hosted Ballymena and as always put in a great performance at all
age levels.
This Wednesday evening sees the Under 20s play their last home game of the league
season against Belfast Harlequins. Kris is wanting a big performance so lets see
a good turn out on Monday in preparation for the match.
Numbers for the tour to Newcastle are going well, so don't leave it to late, get
those flights booked. We could do with a few backs in particular!!!!!!
Finally the Club is holding a closed night this Saturday night from 7pm to cater
for a major private function. In the current economic climate, business is business!!
But
hopefully as many of you as possible will make it down to the club on Saturday to
support the 1st XV in their important league fixture against Lisburn, and afterwards
have a few beers and watch Scotland v Ireland game on the TVs.
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