The 39th Carrick Sevens took place in glorious weather conditions over the week-end of 29 April- 1 May. Although the entry from outside Northern Ireland was down on previous years, no doubt reflecting economic circumstances, more than fifty teams took part over the week-end. These included four from Scotland, including regular visitors Forrester, and newcomers Hanbury RFC (under the leadership of a Forrester exile!) from England. The local Fijian community also provided their usual strong support, entering three teams this year.
The running of the competitions is, of course, possible only because of the generosity of sponsors and more than once over the week-end the Club President, Gerry Simms, acknowledged the Club’s gratitude to to Guinness, Samurai, Manvik, Abbey Insurance, NK fencing, CP Hire and Carrickfergus
Borough Council for their support of the Sevens.
SUNDAYS AIL 7s Picture Links
CLICK HERE For 201 Gleno Photos Pictures, includes action, team and supporters.
CLICK HERE For 196 Pictures, includes lots of team shots, action and supporters pictures
SUNDAYS Ladies 10s Pictures
CLICK HERE for 181 pictures including lots of team shots & action + supporters
CLICK HERE for Gleno Photos 130 Pictures, includes team shots, action and supporters.
The quality of the rugby, and the entertainment, was high and large crowds turned out on all three days, the Saturday crowd for the Guinness Sevens being possibly the largest yet. In addition to the rugby, there was evening entertainment on all three days and, during the competitions, the usual childrens’ activities. The Grim Reapers, putting aside their disappointment at failing to win the contract for a certain catering event in London over the week-end, dispensed their word-famous Reaper Burgers with all of their legendary attention to customer care!
The competitions started on Friday 29 April with the Samurai Under 19s competition. This was dominated by Old Campellians(OCs) and the Belfast Royal Academy linked Big Cats. Both came through the group stages undefeated and OCs then beat Scottish visitors Telford by five tries to one in their semi-final while Big Cats overcame Larne Welsh by six tries to one. In a keenly contested final, Big Cats turned on the pressure in the second half to win by five tries to three and retain the title, and the Everest Cup,which they had won in 2010. Newsletter Player of the Tournament was Stuart Olding of Big Cats. Telford beat Larne in the Plate final while the Bowl was won by Tick Tock Tigers (Carrickfergus Grammar School) who beat Ards Ravens in the final. The thoughts of the organisers and participants were all with Peter Stewart of TIck Tock Tigers who sustained a serious leg injury in one of the group stage games. He and his family have the best wishes of all concerned for a speedy and complete recovery.
SATURDAYS Club 7s Picture Links
CLICK HERE for 302 Pictures from Gleno Photo includes action, team and crown pictures.
CLICK HERE for 318 Pictures from includes action, lots of team shots and crown pictures.
CLICK HERE for 20 more pictures of action.
CLICK HERE f0r 20 new pictures – Thanks D Armstrong
The Guinness Sevens on Saturday 30 April was played in warm sunshine throughout and the large crowd of spectators enjoyed some excellent sevens rugby and keenly contested matches. The strong Ulster Exiles side, Fijian side the Newcastle Exiles, Carrick and the Reapers(those not selling burgers!) made it through to the semi-finals of the Holmes Salver where both Carrick teams were eliminated; Carrick lost to the Ulster Exiles by five tries to one while the Reapers, after putting up stiff resistance, went down by three tries to nil to the Newcastle Exiles. In the final, after an even first half, the young Ulster Exiles finished more strongly to win by five tries to three.Afterwards, Mrs Marlene Holmes presented the Holmes Salver to the captain of the winning team. Newsletter Player of the Tournament went to the Newcastle Exiles’ Misi who was consistently good all afternoon and unfortunate to finish on the losing side in the final. The Willis Plate final was won by Telford who beat another Fijian side, Down Exiles, in the final while Larne beat Carrick side Simply Class in the Woodlawn Bowl final.
FRIDAYS U19s 7s Tournament Picture Links
CLICK HERE FOR 178 Pictures
& Another 168 Pictures CLICK HERE Includes team shots, action, visitors and winners presentation pictures.
The Sunday competitions produced what many observers believe were the most competitive and highest quality Manvik AIL Sevens and Abbey Ladies Tens competitions yet. None of the mens’ teams won all of their group games and ,although Cooke made it to the Ladies final without conceding a try, they were made to fight all the way in the final by Belfast Harlequins. In the Manvik Sevens semi-finals, Queen’s University narrowly beat Dungannon while City of Derry overcame Belfast Harlequins, out-scoring them by six tries to three. The final was another closely contested affair which the impressive Queen’s side won by three tries to one to lift the Simms Salver and the winners’ cheque. Newsletter Player of the Tournament went to David McIlwaine from Queen’s for a series of excellent performances, in both attack and defence, througout the afternoon. The Bowl was won by Belfast Harlequins who narrowly defeated Dungannon in the final.
Although Cooke won the Abbey Ladies Tens, and the FLP Cup for the fifth year in a row, they were made to work very hard in the final by Belfast Harlequins who matched Cooke’s two tries in the first half with two of their own, before the holders pulled away in the second half. Newsletter Player of the Tournament went to Grace Davitt of Cooke. The Bowl competition was won by City of Derry who ran in six unanswered tries against Harlequins Barbarians.
At the close of proceedings, Club President, Gerry Simms, made the now usual presentation of a cheque to rugby charity Wooden Spoon.
On Sunday morning, the traditional Carrick RFC (sort of ) versus Forrester RFC( sort of sober) match took place. No one seems to know the result, how many players participated nor how many referees there were! However, in the context of the Sevens week-end and the long-standing friendship bwteeen the Clubs, a dozen or so tries doesn’t matter!
Despite the smaller entry, the combination of good weather, large crowds and competitive, and often high quality, rugby produced what was certainly one of the best-if not the best- Carrick Sevens week-ends yet. President Gerry Simms, Jim Simms , Michael Simms , Richard Price and the other members of the organising Committe, together with the sponsors, deserve the highest praise for once again producing a tournament which was a credit to Carrickfergus RFC and brought a large number of visitors to the Borough over the week-end.
