v’s Londonderry YM
Carrick win...
The Maxol-sponsored Carrick 1st XV put recent poor performances behind them and gave
League pace-setters, Londonderry YM, a hiding at Drumahoe on Saturday 16 February.
The visitors won by 31 points to 7, scoring five tries to one, and never looked to
be in anything other than total control.Holding their own in the scrum-and taking
one against the head with a seven man pack- they disrupted the YM line-out throughout
and completely outplayed their opponents in the loose. Carrick's aggressive defence
ensured that YM's big ball-carriers were stopped before they could get going and
more turnovers were won than in the four previous games in 2008! With such a committed
team display, and with everyone,without exception, playing their part, it is difficult
to single out individuals. The front five were immense, putting in the hard close-quarters
work as well as acting as ball-carriers to good effect. It was fitting that two of
the Carrick tries should have been scored by second row Andy Kincaid who, along with
Jonathan Moffett ensured line-out dominance for Carrick, and loose head prop Clark
Blair. Their three colleagues, Kirk MacEwan, Paul Greenaway and David McKeen were
also heavily involved in moves leading to tries. In the back row, Michael Nugent
put in a great performance, tackling ferociously and making ground with ball in hand.
Behind the scrum, Glen Picken played a real Captain's part, making a number of incisive
breaks and kicking for territory to good effect.Karl Wilkinson also kicked well out
of hand and both centres, Karl Quinn and Adrian Patterson, tackled strongly. They
got Carrick off to the best possible start when Patterson was put through the YM
defence to score virtually from the kick-off. Wing Paul Saberton showed his attacking
abilities to the full and deservedly got two of the Carrick tries. In the end, this
was a great team performance, with a level of committment that wasn't always present
in previous matches. (Even those for whom defence is not the strongest suit were
hurling themselves into tackles!) It confirms what many believe; that if this squad
of players simply back themselves thay can beat anyone in Section II(and a few in
Section I as well, as Coleraine will testify!).
In perfect conditions, Carrick got off to a great start, with Adrian Patterson scything
through the YM defence to score right from the kick-off.Karl Wilkinson added the
conversion points. Carrick showed early on a determination not to let the home side
settle and were clearly getting the better of the argument over possession. After
going close on ten minutes, following a great break by Glen Picken, the visitors
extended their lead after twenty-three minutes with a try by Andy Kincaid. Kirk MacEwan
won turnover ball at a maul and David McKeen made twenty metres before passing to
Kincaid who out-paced the chasing YM players and ran through the remaining YM defender
to touch down. The conversion was missed.Then, just four minutes later came probably
the best try of the afternoon. With great awareness, Glen Picken ran a penalty from
his own 22 and fed Paul Saberton who showed great footwork to get round the YM cover
and then raced fifty metres to score. Karl Wilkinson converted from a difficult angle
to give Carrick a lead of 19 points to nil. There then followed a period were YM
managed to establish them selves in Carrick territory for about ten minutes but they
were unable to get either the quality or quantity of possession to seriously threaten.
In any case, the Carrick defence during this period was excellent, with Michael Nugent
especially prominent. Half-time was reached with Carrick's line still intact.
In the early stages of the second half, Carrick were dominating territory, with YM
finding it difficult to get out of their own half. However, when Carrick had a player
yellow-carded for allegedly killing the ball, the home side enjoyed their one brief
period of dominance. Following their penalty kick to touch, they went through a series
of picks and drives and finally forced their way over. The try was converted. However,
any YM hopes that this might spark a revival were mis-placed as Carrick gradually
took back control of territory, partly due to the kicking of Picken and Wikinson.
(On twenty minutes the scrum-half was taken out in a late tackle but the referee,
surprisingly, did not go to his pocket for a card! ) It was an excellent kick by
Wilkinson which set up the position for Carrick to score their fourth try. The out-half
found touch in the home side's 22, Carrick turned over YM possession following the
line-out, Paul Greenaway made ground to the right and put in a perfectly timed pass
to Paul Saberton who beat his marker and went over in the corner. The conversion
was missed. With their yellow-carded player back on, Carrick then lost another forward
for ten minutes for a similar offence. However, it didn't make much difference to
the course of the game. YM could not control possession and the visitors continued
to defend aggressively. Even with seven forwards, Carrick managed to take a ball
against the head at a scrum on one occasion! Carrick finished their opponents off
with a try on thirty-seven minutes. This followed an excellent touch find by Chris
Jones, a line-out steal by McKeen and a determined drive to the line by Clark Blair
who took out a couple of defenders in going over. Karl Wilkinson added the points
to leave Carrick leading by 31 points to 7. In the dying minutes, YM lost one of
their back row to a yellow card and Carrick had no difficulty in keeping them at
bay until the final whistle.
This was a great team performance by Carrick, probably their best in several seasons,
and by a side which many will argue was not the strongest they could put out. They
will look forward with confidence to their visit to Ballyclare (another side with
title aspirations, at least until they lost last week) on Saturday 23 February.
The Carrick team against Londonderry YM was:
C. Jones; P. Saberton, A. Patterson, K. Quinn, W.Anderson; K. Wilkinson, G.Picken(Capt),
C. Blair, D. McKeen, P. Greenaway, A. Kincaid, K. MacEwan, M. Nugent, R. Higgins,
J. Moffett.
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