You are viewing..

Est 1865

v’s City of Derry II

Carrick lose...

Carrick 2nd XV lost their Magners Crawford Cup semi-final against City of Derry II at Woodlawn on Saturday 21 March by 24 points to 17. The bald facts do not, however, tell anything like the true story. The young Carrick side, with many still eligible for the Under 20s, gave the experienced, Junior League Section 1 winners the fright of their lives and had it not been for some harsh refereeing, the result could have been different. Carrick ended up playing at least one man down for about thirty minutes of the match because of three yellow cards, with two for the same player resulting in a red. At least one of the card decisions was highly questionable and resulted in Carrick being down to thirteen men when City of Derry scored their crucial first try to get them back into the game just before half-time.

Carrick, playing with the breeze in their favour in the first half began well and took the lead early on when Johnny Sheriff put over a penalty. For the remainder of the first quarter, things were fairly even but then, after twenty minutes, the visitors turned the ball over near the Carrick line and good vision from Kris James resulted in the ball being transfered quickly to Kyle Jordan ; the winger raced the length of the field, going round two defenders, to score near the posts. Johnny Sheriff added the conversion points. The game continued with City of Derry getting a lot of possession but Carrick's tackling and tactical kicking ensured that most of the game was played between the 22s. Despite being a man down because of a yellow card, Carrick extended their lead on thirty-four minutes when Johnny Sheriff put in a well judged Garryowen, gathered himself and out-paced the defence to score. He then added the conversion points to give Carrick a lead of 17 points to nil. However, two yellow cards, one for what seemed a fairly innocuous offence, and one converting to red left Carrick with just thirteen men and the visitors got over the line following a tap penalty five metres out. The try was not converted, leaving the half-time score at 17 points to 5 in Carrick's favour.

With a freshening wind at their backs, the visitors began to dominate territory and possession in the second half but found it difficult to break down the determined Carrick defence. In this they were not helped by suffering a yellow carding of their own.However, with twelve minutes to go, they forced their way over following a catch and drive from a line out. This try was converted and, two minutes later, City of Derry crossed the line again from a move off the back of a five metre scrum. The try was converted to give the visitors the lead. In the dying minutes they added a fourth try when they took the ball at a Carrick scrum five metres out by means that were almost certainly not legal! This try was not converted, leaving the final score at 24 popints to 17 in the visitors' favour.

This was a performance of which they should justly be proud by the young Carrick side and, with a little bit of luck, and less pedantic refereeing, they might well have been in the final.

The Carrick 4th XV was the only other team in action on Saturday and they lost by 22 points to 17 away to Ballyclare V. Jason Wady, on his senior club debut, scored both Carrick tries. Philip Ritchie converted both and added a penalty.

The 1st XV are back in action next week , away to Academy, and, with Bangor having beaten Ballyclare at week-end, Carrick are now very much in the mix for the Section 2 title. However, every game from now on has to be won!

Back

.Match Report, 21-03-09