The IBS-sponsored Carrick Under 19s took the spoils in their encounter with local rivals Larne at Tom Simms Memorial Park on Saturday 15 October, winning a hard-fought match by 24 points to 18.
The wet and breezy conditions made handling difficult and both sides found it difficult to get continuity. With the diagonal cross-wind helping them in the first half, Larne held the half-time lead but Carrick had the better of territory and possession in the second period and their two converted tries and a penalty were sufficient to give them victory. All credit to Larne though because they never stopped trying and their strong running back three continued to cause problems for the home side’s defence right up to the final whistle.
Carrick started well into the breeze and took the lead with a try after twelve minutes. Following a penalty to touch close to the Larne line, the forwards caught and drove and Nathan Wilson broke off to dive over . Adam Kendell added the conversion points. From this point on though, much of the game was played in the Carrick half and the visitors reduced the deficit with penalties after twenty-three and thirty minutes. Larne took the lead on thirty-five minutes when, with quick ruck ball, they went wide and around the Carrick defence to score in the corner. The try was not converted, leaving Larne leading by 11 points to 7 at half-time.
While Carrick found it difficult to retain possession in the early stages of the second half, they made sure that most of the play was in their opponents’ half. They re-gained the lead ten minutes into the half when Mark Ferris drove over following a tap penalty. Adam Kendell added the points. Five minutes later, Carrick extended their lead when Ryan McKay dived over following a series of 5-metre scrums. Again. Adam Kendell converted to give Carrick a 21 points to 11 lead. However, Larne came back in the twenty-third minute of the half when their left winger went right through the Carrick defence to score.The try was converted to narrow the gap to just three points. Carrick continued to dominate territory though and increased their lead with an Adam Kendell penalty with ten minutes remaining. The home side remained in control until the final whistle and, had they been able to hang onto the greasy ball, might have added to their total.
This was a satisfying win for Carrick against a skillful and determined Larne side but there remain areas for the coaches to work on. Mark Ferris, returning from Ulster Youths duty, was deservedly named “man of the match”.
The Carrick team was:
J. Summer; C. Ward, M. Brush(Capt), R. Hamilton, L. Wilson; A. Kendell, D. McAllister; D. Wilson, J. Murray, R. Armstrong, R. McKay, N. Frazer, N. Wilson, J. Millar, M. Ferris.
The Carrick Youth teams travelled to Lurgan on Saturday
The Under 15s, playing Lurgan for the first time in the Ulster elite league, came away with a handsome 39 points to 7 victory. The try scorers were Sam Wallace, Dylan McDowell, Jamie Craig, Corrie Kelly, Jake Porter, Aaron Rea and Jordan Devenny.
The Under 17s came back strongly in the second half to beat their Lurgan opposite numbers by 12 points to 7, with tries from Darren Robinson and Callum Wilson, the first of which was converted by Matthew Wilson.
Unfortunately, the Under 13s lost heavily to the current Ulster Under 13 champions despite a brave performance.
THIS WEEKS FIXTURES:
Wed 19th October
2nd XV vs Banbridge, home(7.30)
Sat 22nd October
1st XV vs Grosvenor, home
3rd XV vs Cooke III, away
4th XV vs Ards IV, home
5th XV vs Donaghadee III, home
Under 19s vs Ballymena, away
