v’s Banbrige II, A
CARRICK Lose first Junior Cup Game
The Maxol-sponsored Carrick 1st XV lost their first group stage Junior Cup match
on Saturday 27 October, going down by 20 points to 11 to Banbridge II at Woodlawn.
A somewhat under-strength Carrick side put up a good performance against the well-drilled
Co Down side but ultimately paid the price for too many handling errors and turnovers
as well as one bad defensive lapse. While they allowed Banbridge to over-turn an
11 points to 3 half-time deficit, this was not another case of Carrick fading in
the second half. They fought right to the end and, had the visitors been pulled up
earlier for their sometimes questionable activities at the ruck- a member of their
back-row was eventually given a yellow card- the result might well have been much
closer. As it was, a little more patience and accuracy could have produced at least
one second half try for Carrick.The pack did well in the set pieces, with the scrum
solid, and andy Kincaid and Johnny Moffett not only supplied Carrick with good ball
at the line-out but they nicked at least four of the opposition throws. The main
problems for Carrick were at the break down where Banbridge were smarter( and got
away with it!) and in their controll of the ball generally.
Carrick began brightly, playing with the breeze in the first half, and spent the
first five minutes camped in and around the visitors' 22. However, the handling errors
which were to be a feature throughout, meant the efforts of their pack in particular
were not rewarded. Against the run of play, Banbridge took the lead after fifteen
minutes with a successful penalty kick from in front of the posts. A number of promising
Carrick attacks came to nought because of passes not going to hand and it was not
until the thirtieth minute that the home side got on level terms. This came as a
result of a penalty, converted by Karl Wilkinson, following an attack which went
through three or four phases. Three minutes later, Wilkinson put Carrick into the
lead with another penalty awarded for holding on the ground. Then, in injury time,
Carrick got the try which their efforts deserved. This came from a piece of quick
thinking by back row Richard Higgins who took a quick tap penalty, made ground up
to the vistors' 22 and passed to left winger Paul Saberton who stepped his marker
beautifully and went over in the corner. The try was not converted to leave Carrick
leading by 11 points to 3 at the break.
With the wind at their backs in the second half, Banbridge reduced the deficit with
a penalty after two minutes. For the next fifteen minutes or so, things were fairly
even, with both sides having chances. However, it was Banbridge who took the lead
after twenty minutes when Carrick lost control of the ball following a line-out on
their own 22 and a bad defensive lapse allowed the visitors to go through the mid-field
to score to the right of the posts. The try was converted to give Banbridge the lead
by 13 points to 11. Following the kick-off, the visitors mounted another attack and,
after several phases, Carrick simply ran out of defenders and Banbridge got their
second try wide out on the right. Again, the try was converted. Carrick then began
to apply their own pressure and spent the next ten minutes in the Banbridge half.
However, handling errors and a lack of patience when they tried a series of picks
and drives, allowed Banbridge to hold them out. Eventually, the pressure was relieved
when a penalty allowed the visitors to clear the ball to half-way. Carrick continued
to try to attack, even from well inside their own half but, as throughout, most efforts
ended with them losing control of the ball. The game ended with neither side able
to add to their score and with Banbridge victors by 20 points to 11.
This was not a bad performance by a Carrick side with a number of changes from their
regular line-up. However, they will need to improve their accuracy if the challenge
for League honours is to be maintained.
Next week, Carrick play their second Junior Cup group match away at Rainey.
The Carrick team against Banbridge was:
J. Sheriff; D. Crothers(R. Hawkins), J. McConnell, D. Wady, P. Saberton; K. Wilkinson,
G. Picken; C. Blair, G. Baxter(M. Patterson), P. Greenaway, A. Kincaid, J. Moffett,
R. Higgins, R. Marsden, P. McIlrath(Capt).
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