V’s CIYMS
The Maxol-sponsored Carrick 1st XV lost their first League match of the season at
Woodlawn on Saturday 12 September, going down by 27 points to 20 to CIYMS. After
a promising first half, the still somewhat under-strength Carrick side found it hard
to gain field position playing into the breeze after the break. Part of the problem
was the excellence of the CI line kicking but other difficulties were self-inflicted.
The combination of a mis-firing line-out and the fact that they made heavy weather
of dealing with kicks into their 22 meant that CI dominated possession and territory
for much of the half .However, some stout defending by Carrick made it difficult
for the visitors to turn possession into points.
On a beautiful day for rugby, Carrick started well and went three points up after
two minutes when Karl Wilkinson converted a penalty. After ten minutes, CI hit back
with a well-taken try. A nicely timed pass split the Carrick defence and the inside
centre was able to canter over. The try was converted to give the visitors a 7 points
to 3 lead. However, Carrick were looking the sharper side at this stage and a number
of kicks and chases almost produced results. It was not until the twenty-eighth minute,
however, that the home side finally got its reward when, following a tap penalty,
quickly re-cycled ball allowed David McKeen to dive over. The try was not converted.
Then, just short of half-time, strong runs by David McKeen and Mark Patterson set
up quick second phase ball for Matt Hadden to run in for a try. Unfortunately, the
conversion attempt came back off the post, leaving Carrick leading by 13 points to
7 at half-time.
After the break, CI were reduced to fourteen men when they lost a prop to injury.
This meant that scrums were uncontested for the remainder of the game. However, after
just five minutes of the half, the visitors had re-gained the lead. Following a penalty
kick to touch in the Carrick 22, clean line-out possession and quick re-cycling enabled
them to force their way over under the posts. The try was converted. CI continued
to dominate, with some excellent line-kicking from their mid-field backs but found
it hard to break down the Carrick defence. The home side, for their part, didn't
take advantage of their numerical superiority by showing patience when in opossession
and forcing their opponents to defend for longer periods. CI eventually extended
their lead with a penalty on thirty minutes but did not seal the victory until the
thirty -eighth minute when they got over in the right hand corner. The try was not
converted but the visitors scored again two minutes later when Carrick turned over
possession inside their own 22. Again, the try was not converted. Deep in injury
time, Carrick gave a glimpse of what might have been when Paul McIlrath went over
following a tap penalty. Karl Wilkinson added the points to leave the final score
at 27 points to 20 in CI's favour.
There is plenty for Carrick to work on before they travel to Donaghadee on Saturday
19 September for their second League fixture.
The team against CIYMS was:
A. McKinney; G. Hughes, D. Kirkpatrick, J. Wady, G. McAuley; K. Wilkinson, G. Picken;
C. Blair, D. McKeen, P. Greenaway, S. Currie, M. Patterson, M. Hadden, A. McKeen,
P. McIlrath.
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