V’s Londonderry YMCA, A
The Maxol-sponsored Carrick 1st XV picked up their first win of the season when they
overcame Londonderry YM by 22 points to 7 at Drumahoe on Saturday 26 September. Apart
from the first quarter, Carrick were on top throughout both in terms of territory
and possession. For this they can thank their pack, back to almost full strength,
in which the returning Andy Kincaid and Paul McIlrath were prominent throughout.
The scrum was solid and the line-out functioned perfectly, with Captain Stuart Currie
providing a first class service and disrupting the YM throw to the point where scarcely
a throw-in was straight! The front row trio of Paul Greenaway, Glen Baxter and David
McKeen were also prominent in the loose and the back row of McIlrath, Andy McKeen
and Ross Crymble won the battle at the break-down comprehensively. In the backs,
Jason Wady and Paul Saberton produced a number of incisive breaks, at least one of
which could have led to a try. Indeed, if there is a criticism of the Carrick performance
it is that a tendency to over-eagerness, and trying to take the extra yard, probably
cost them a couple of further tries.That said, the visitors were so totally in control
in the second half that YM hardly made a visit to the Carrick 22 and only rarely
got out of their own half. Indeed, when Carrick were down to fourteen men in the
final quarter, because of a somewhat bizarre sin-binning, they scored their only
try of the half and remained as firmly in control as ever!
On another perfect day for rugby, the home side began with the diagonal breeze helping
them and, after a fairly even first ten minutes, took the lead with a well worked
try when an attack on the blind-side following a scrum caught Carrick short of defenders.
The try was converted. The visitors then began to gradually assert control up front
but it was not until the half-hour mark that this was reflected on the score-board.
Following a period of Carrick pressure, YM were forced to kick to touch close to
their line. >From the ruck following the line-out, Ross Crymble( on his birthday!)
forced his way over for a try which was not converted, leaving YM still leading by
7 points to 5. Three minutes later, Carrick moved YM through 180 degrees at a scrum
and won the put-in. From the scrum,the ball was taken on by Paul McIlrath who fed
Glen Baxter and the hooker stepped his marker to score an excellent try near the
posts. Karl Wilkinson added the points from the conversion. This gave Carrick the
lead by 12 points to 7 and this remained the score until half-time.
The visitors extended their lead with a Karl Wilkinson penalty after three minutes
of the second half but, despite a long period of dominance, Carrick spurned chances
to score tries, mainly because of a lack of patience and a tendency to turn the ball
over at crucial moments. They eventually got their reward with four minutes of normal
time to go when Andy Kincaid went over following a catch and drive from a line-out.
Karl Wilkinson converted to make the score 22 points to 7 in Carrick's favour, a
score-line that in no way flattered them; indeed it is arguable that even the 15
point margin of victory did not fully reflect the visitors' dominance.
After a poor start to the season, it was good to see a close to full strength Carrick
side take the field and dominate so completely a side just down from Section 1 of
the Qualifying League. The 1st XV do not have a match this Saturday and their next
fixture is against Omagh at Woodlawn on 10 October.
The Carrick team against Londonderry YM was:
M. Gilmore; P. Saberton, D. Kirkpatrick, J. Wady, G. McAuley; K. Wilkinson, A. McKinney;
D. McKeen, G. Baxter, P. Greenaway, S. Currie(Capt), A. Kincaid, A. McKeen, R. Crymble,
P. McIlrath.
All of the senior Carrick sides, and the Under-19s, recorded victories on Saturday.
The 2nd XV beat Ballynahinch IV by 41 points to 17, with Ian Turner getting three
tries and Adrian Patterson, Darren Wady and Kyle Jordan one each. Johnny Sheriff
contributed four penalties and a conversion. The "man of the match" award went to
Justin McGrillis. The 3rd XV came from 12 points to nil down to beat the previously
undefeated Randalstown II by 13 points to 12. Craig Brazier got two tries and "man
of the match" and Alan Wade got the winning penalty with the last kick of the match.
The 4th XV maintained their 100% record with a 7 points to 6 win over Ards IV. John
Marshall got the try which was converted by Ross Hunter. Gareth Clarke yet again
picked up " man of the match". The Under 19s , in their first League match, beat
Coleraine by 28 points to 12. Andrew McCurry got two tries, and "man of the match",
while Chris Rodgers and Luke McClelland scored one each. Luke Whitall kicked one
conversion and two penalties.
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