v’s Ballyclare, H
The Carrick 1st XV made it three League wins out of four with a 23 points to 11 victory
over Ballyclare at Woodlawn on Saturday 29 September. The Maxol-sponsored Carrick
side made somewhat heavy weather of overcoming the young and spirited visitors although,
to be fair, they never looked in any danger of loosing. Their set-pieces were rock
solid. Terry McCracken and Andy Kincaid provided clean ball from the line-out and
McCracken "nicked" four of the opposition throws.The Carrick pack were on top in
the scrum while the back row turned in another excellent performance in the loose.
Open-side John McDowell had a superb match, winning turn-over ball, carrying strongly
and putting in some heavy tackles. The problem for Carrick was simply their error
rate. They lost the ball in contact too often and the penalty count was too high.
It must be said that the wet conditions were far from ideal for a handling game but
the kicking option was certainly under-used . Credit must also be given to the Ballyclare
side who competed hard for every ball and never ceased to put pressure on the home
team.
Carrick started well, pushing Ballyclare off the ball at the first scrum and keeping
them under pressure when they had the ball. Indeed, it was Carrick pressure which
set up the platform for the first try after eight minutes. Great following up by
Daryl Crothers of a kick forced Ballyclare to put the ball into touch in their own
22. From the line-out, good "off the top" ball from McCracken was taken up by Kincaid
and re-cycled to scrum-half Glen Picken whose well-timed pass allowed Paul McIlrath
to breach the Ballyclare defence and score near the posts. Karl Wilkinson added the
conversion. The pattern of the game was set early, with Carrick pretty much on top
in most departments but making too many errors. Indiscipline let Ballycale get onto
the scoreboard after thirteen minutes when Carrick were moved back ten metres for
dissent at a penalty and this allowed the visitors into range to kick the goal. Carrick
continued in this vein but eventually increased their lead after twenty-five minutes
with a Karl Wilkinson penalty. They were unable to add to this until the stroke of
half-time when the out-half converted another penalty. This followed some strong
driving by Carrick, with Kincaid and McDowell prominent, and ended with the visitors
getting off-side. Wilkinson's successful kick meant that Carrick led by 13 points
to 3 at the break.
Ballyclare reduced the deficit almost immediately after the re-start when Carrick
were penalised for holding and the visitors were successful with the kick at goal.
The game continued as it had in the first half, with Ballyclare competing well in
the loose, aided by Carrick's mistakes, but the home side comfortably on top in the
set pieces. It was not until the twenty-second minute of the half that Carrick consolidated
their position with another score. This came directly from the pressure they were
exerting at the line-out; when Ballyclare were forced to tap back untidily at a line-out
five metres from their line, prop Clark Blair pounced to get the touch-down. The
conversion attempt was not successful. Carrick went further ahead after thirty-one
minutes with their third try. A poor Ballyclare drop-out resulted in them conceding
a scrum on their own 22. Carrick won good ball and a well placed kick by Picken was
gathered by McIlrath and transferred right to John McDowell who forced his way over
for a deserved try.The try was not converted. With a couple of minutes remaining,
Ballyclare got the consolation score which their efforts deserved. A chip through
the Carrick defence was re-cycled quickly and gave them an over-lap which they used
to score in the corner. The conversion attempt did not succeed, leaving Carrick victors
by 23 points to 11.
While this was not a vintage performance by Carrick, they kept things together sufficiently
to win with something to spare in the end.On 6 October, Carrick are again at home
in the League when the visitors will be Academy.
The Carrick team against Ballyclare was:
P. Saberton; D. Crothers, W. Anderson, D. Wady, J. Sheriff; K. WIlkinson, G. Picken;
C. Blair, R. Higgins, P. Greenaway, T. McCracken, A.Kincaid, C. Rankin, J. McDowell,
P. McIlrath(Capt).
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