v’s Bangor, H
The 2007/08 League campaign started badly for the Maxol-sponsored Carrick 1st XV
when they lost their opening match against Bangor by 38 points to 20 at Woodlawn
on Saturday 8 September. In near perfect weather conditions, a slightly under-strength
Carrick pretty much dominated the first half, and led by 20 points to 8 at the break,
but were completely out-played by the visitors in the second half. Bangor's line
kickers forced Carrick to play most of the second period in their own half of the
field and their big pack and strong running backs made good use of this territorial
advantage to run in four unanswered tries. Carrick did not help their cause by giving
away far too many penalties and turning over ball at crucial times.
The game began badly for Carrick; they missed a penalty chance just after the kick-off
and then conceded a try after seven minutes when Bangor retained possession through
several phases and created an over-lap for their winger to get in at the corner.
The try was not converted. Carrick then began to assert themselves, based largely
on the work of the back row of McNeill, McDowell amd McIlrath and some effective
line kicking by Karl Wilkinson. They got back on level terms after twenty minutes
when a line-out steal by Terry McCracken set up an attacking position from which
Carrick won a penalty. This was put into touch and, from the line-out, the ball was
moved right and then left before an excellent miss pass from McIlrath allowed winger
Gareth Clarke to get in at the corner. The try was not converted to leave the score
tied at 5 points apiece. However, the home side took the lead in the twenty-sixth
minute when Karl Wilkinson converted a penalty, earned following an attack in which
both backs and forwards handled. Carrick went further ahead just four minutes later
when captain Paul McIlrath intercepted a Bangor pass and popped the ball up to Wilkinson
who ran a great line to out-pace the Bangor defence from forty metres out. The out-half
then added the points for the conversion. Bangor reduced the deficit with a successful
penalty after thirty-six minutes but Carrick more than off-set this with another
try just before half-time. This followed a seriies of Carrick attacks, in which David
McKeen and Paul McIlrath were prominent, and ended with John McDowell forcing his
way over. The try was not converted and half-time arrived with Carrick leading by
20 points to 8.
Any thoughts that Carrick might have had of a convincing win over a side just down
from Section 1 of the Qualifying League began to be disabused after the break when
the visitors began to exert pressure up front and showed their intention early to
play the game in Carrick territory. They were aided by Carrick's lack of discipline
at the break-down which resulted in a high penalty count on top of a tendency to
turn over too much ball. The visitors reduced Carrick's lead with a successful penalty
kick in the first minute after half-time. The pressure they were begining to apply
was rewarded with a try after fifteen minutes when they ran back turn-over ball and
created space on the left to get in at the corner. This try was converted to reduce
the deficit to 2 points. Then, seven minutes later, Bangor took the lead when their
out-half broke the Carrick defensive line and, despite appearing to lose the ball
over the line, was awarded a try. The conversion attempt was unsuccessful but the
visitors continued to dominate and went further ahead after thirty-four minutes when
they ran back a Carrick drop-out and managed to create a four on two on the right
and scored in the corner. Again, the try was not converted but Bangor extended their
lead with another penalty on thirty-nine minutes and rounded off the scoring with
an intercept try deep in injury time. This was converted to leave the final score
at 38 points to 20 in the visitors' favour.
While this was a disappointing defeat for Carrick, they were not quite at full strength
and former AIL side Bangor are just down from Section 1 and were expected to provide
a stern test. It may take a week or two of League action to get a true perspective
on this result. On Saturday 15 September, Carrick are away to Lisburn and they will
want to put the Bangor result behind them and avenge last season's unexpected defeats
by Lisburn.
The Carrick team against Bangor was:
P.Saberton; G. Clarke, W. Anderson, M. McDowell, J. Sheriff; K. Wilkinson, C. Wallace;
D. McKeen, R.Higgins, P. Greenaway, T. McCracken, A. Kincaid, I. McNeill, J.. McDowell,
P. McIlrath(Capt).
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