The Maxol-sponsored Carrick 1st XV got their fourth League win of the seasonon Friday
11 December when they beat Lisburn under lights at Woodlawn by 36 points to 6. After
looking comfortably in charge at half-time, Carrick almost let Lisburn back into
the match in the third quarter before running in three tries in the last fifteen
minutes against their tiring opponents. The home side were completely on top in scrum
and line-out and, with another excellent performance from the back row, especially
man of the match Matt Hadden, they made it difficult for Lisburn to use their possession.
Veterans Alan Davidson and Darren Wady came into the side because of injuries and
performed as if they had never been away! Indeed, Wady still loooks a potent threat
in the centre, making a number of incisive breaks.
Lisburn started well and were dominating territory in the early stages but it was
Carrick who got the first score after seven minutes. Winger Jim Neill gathered when
the visitors failed to deal with a kick and raced in from his own 10 metre line,
out-pacing the remaining defendrers. Glen Picken's conversion attempt came back off
the cross-bar. Five minutes later, Carrick went further ahead when full-back Paul
Saberton finished off a Carrick attack involving backs and forwards by beating two
defenders to run in from thirty metres out to score in the corner. Credit must go
to stand-in fly-half, Aaron McKinney ,for a well-timed pass to put Saberton in space.
This try was not converted but the home side went further ahead from a Glen Picken
penalty after seventeen minutes. Aided by Carrick's difficulty with some of the referee's
interpretations at the break-down, Lisburn continued to dominate territory but, thanks
in particular to the Carrick forwards, they were finding it difficult to hang onto
the ball for long enough to mount sustained attacks. Half-time was reached with Carrick
down to fourteen men because of a yellow card but still leading by 13 points to nil.
Early in the second half, Lisburn were also reduced to fourteen men because of injury
but were first on the score-board with a penalty after eleven minutes. Despite losing
a player to a yellow card, they further reduced the deficit on in the seventeenth
minute of the half with another penalty. At this stage, Carrick were becoming increasingly
frustrated with the refereeing of the break-down and it looked as though the visitors
were getting right back into the match. However, another Glen Picken penalty on twenty-minutes
increased the lead and four minutes later scrum-half Michael Patterson effectively
killed off any hope of a Lisburn revival when he got the touch-down when an attempted
clearance by the visitors was charged down. The try came following a strong run by
Jim Neill and good following up by Andy McKeen. The try was not converted but Carrick
were now more or less totally dominant and Glen Picken put them further ahead with
another penalty on twenty-eight minutes.Then, the Lisburn kick-off was run straight
back by Aaron McKinney and, after being taken on by Darren Wady and Glen Picken,
the ball was picked up again by McKinney who side-stepped a defender to score. Glen
Picken added the conversion points. Wtime running out, and Lisburn with another man
off injured, Carrick got their fifth try when Matt Hadden capped a fine evening's
work by diving over in the corner. The try came following a break by Karl Quinn and
handling by backs and forwards before quick ruck ball gave the blind-side his chance.
The try was not converted to leave the final score at 36 points to 6 in Carrick's
favour.
This was an important win for Carrick ,with only three wins in eight League games
before Friday night, and leaves them still able to aspire to a top half of the table
finish to the season.
The 1st XV have no games on the next two Saturdays and resume League action away
to CIYMS on 2 January.
The Carrick team against Lisburn was:
P. Saberton; J. Neill, K. Quinn, D. Wady, G. Picken(Capt); A. McKinney, M. Patterson;
G. Leslie, G. Baxter, A. Davidson, S. Currie, A. Kincaid, M. Hadden A. McKeen, P.
McIlrath.
On Saturday 12 December, the Carrick 2nd XV also had a convincing win, beating Ballymena
III by 45 points to 7. Brothers Craig and Kyle Jordan got two tries each while the
others were scored by Jason Wady, Will Johnston, Ian Turner and Ross Crymble. The
man of the match was Craig Jordan.
Unfortunately, the 3rd XV went out in the first round of the McCambley Cup, losing
by 15 points to 10 to Armoy. However, the 4th XV won their first round match by 43
points to 5 against Banbridge V
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