v’s Bangor, A
Carrick lose
The Maxol-sponsored Carrick 1st XV were beaten by 24 points to 3 by Bangor in the
League on Saturday 17 November. The match, at Uprichard Park, was played in miserably
wet conditions but the home side adapted much better in the first half and had built
up a comfortable lead by half-time. The under-strength Carrick side put in a much
better performance, defensively at any rate, in the scoreless second half but were
unable to break down the well organised Bangor defence. The visitors did not help
their own cause in the first half with the quality of some of their tackling which
was often too high, allowing the big Bangor backs to breach the gain line too often.
While the home side undoubtedly got away with some illegal tackles of their own,
including a very late one on full-back Paul Saberton, and were "sympathetically"
refereed at the line-out, they fully deserved their victory and were dominant in
most areas of the game.
The home side got off to a strong start and took the lead after just six minutes
with a try which came from a move involving handling by both backs and forwards and
was finished off by their impressive outside centre. They were, however, aided by
some slack Carrick defending. The try was not converted. Bangor extended their lead
after thirteen minutes when, after going through several re-cycling phases, they
broke through the Carrick mid-field and their full-back touched down. This time the
try was converted. Carrick's first real period of attacking play came towards the
end of the first quarter when they stole Bangor ball at the line-out but, in the
end their only reward was a Karl Wilkinson penalty in the twenty-third minute. Despite
some good line kicking by Wilkinson and Picken, Carrick were unable to build a decent
attacking platform and it was the home side who scored next, with Carrick reduced
to fourteen men because of a yellow card. The visitors turned the ball over after
a scrum and, after quickly re-cycled ball, the Bangor scrum-half went over. The try
was converted. Deep into injury time at the end of the half, Bangor scored what was
to prove to be the last points of the game when their outside centre forced his way
over following a strong forward drive and quick ball to the backs. This try was not
converted to leave Bangor leading by 24 points to 3 at the break.
With conditions deteriorating, the second half was an error-strewn affair and neither
side ever really looked like scoring, with most of the play taking place between
the 22s. Bangor were reduced to thirteen men at one stage because of injury and a
yellow card but their defence held up well and Carrick were unable to take advantage.
That said, Carrick were much tighter defensively in the second half following a stern
talking to by coach Billy Montgomery at half-time. However, in the end, it was probably
a relief to players and spectators alike when the referee blew his whistle to finish
the game.
This was one of Carrick's more forgetable performances and they will be looking for
a big improvement on Saturday 24 November when they make the short journey to Greenisland
to take on Belfast High School Former Pupils.
The Carrick team against Bangor was:
P. Saberton; D. Crothers, A. Patterson, J. McConnell, S. Boyd; K. Wilkinson, G. Picken;
C. Blair, G. Baxter, P. Greenaway, T. McCracken, A. Kincaid, D. McKeen, R. Marsden,
P. McIlrath(Capt).
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