v’s CIYMS
Carrick lose
The Maxol-sponsored Carrick 1st XV were beaten by CIYMS by 24 points to 10 at Woodlawn
on Saturday 22 December.An under strength and inexperienced Carrick side, with a
three-quarter line consisting entirely of players whose normal roles are as wingers,
put in a strong first half performance but the Belfast side took control in the second
half and ran out deserved winners of the League encounter.
Playing with the breeze and sun behind them, Carrick went 7 points to nil up virtually
from the kick-off. Paul Greenaway put in a strong charge, making about thirty metres
and, when the ball went loose, fellow prop David McKeen gathered to dive over. Karl
Wilkinson added the ponts. Both props were prominent throughout the game, in attack
, defence and in the scrum,and along with scrum-half and stand-in Captain, Glen Picken,
were Carrick's stand-out players. With their scrum on top, and Terry McCracken performing
his usual disruptive role in the line-out, Carrick looked the better side for much
of the first half. Unfortunately, some slack defending, in part down to players in
unfamiliar roles, allowed CI to score after thirteen minutes from a move that went
through four or five phases and ended with a try out wide. This was not converted.
Carrick continued to dominate territory and went close on a number of occasions.
However, their only reward in terms of points was a Karl Wilkinson penalty after
thirty-six minutes. This was awarded following a promising attack with McKeen and
Andy Kincaid prominent and meant that, at half-time, Carrick led by 10 points to
5.
With the elements in their favour in the second half, the visitors gradually took
control and pretty much dominated territory and possession for trhe whole of the
half. However, brave defence by Carrick, including a couple of crunching tackles
by Greenaway, kept CI out. Eventually though, the pressure told and CI scored on
twenty-three minutes after another move going through several phases and ending with
a winger's try in the corner. Again, this was not converted to leave the scores level
but five minutes later the visitors took the lead when fast transfer following a
turn-over created a good try near the posts. This try was converted. Following this
, Carrick seemed to go up a gear and began to put some pressure on CI and lost a
great chanceto get something from a catch and drive because of accidental off-side.
Following this, an unfortunate series of events, including failure to kill a speculative
kick ahead, allowed the slick CI backs to manufacture another try in the corner.
This was converted and, despite a couple of attempts to create something by the home
side, CI were left deserved winners by 24 points to 10.
Next Saturday, the League action continues with the home leg of the local derby with
Larne, Carrick having won the away leg comfortably. This match is given added interest
by the fact that Larne are to be Carrick's opponents in the first round of the Towns'
Cup in the New Year.
The Carrick team against CI was:
P. Saberton; M. Gilmore, D. Crothers, C. Jordan, S. Boyd; K. Wilkinson, G. Picken(Capt);
D. McKeen, G. Baxter, P. Greenaway, T. McCracken,A. Haire, K. MacEwan, M. Patterson,
A.Kincaid.
Merry Xmas and Happy New Year,
Tom Stainer
Photos
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