The Maxol-sponsored Carrick 1st XV lost by 17 points to 10 away to League leaders Ballyclare on Saturday 16th February. This was a much improved performance by Carrick compared with their last meeting with Ballyclare before Christmas. After a shaky start, Carrick settled well and were highly competitive in most aspects of the game. The scrum was reasonably solid for much of the game, as was the line-out, and, for part of the match at least, the visitors had the edge in the loose. Even the Ballyclare supporters had to concede that Carrick fully deserved their losing bonus point if not more. For Carrick, scrum-half Glen Picken, making his return after injury, controlled things well and open-side Neil Hanna, who probably had the highest work rate on the field, was a constant thorn in the Ballyclare side and a reliable source of possession in the line-out. Andy Kincaid and Glen Baxter were again prominent in the loose both as ball carriers and in defence. Out-half Johnny Sheriff scored a fine individual try while Kenny Topping-moved out from scrum-half- had a very good game on the wing.
Ballyclare started almost as they had finished in the game at Carrick in December and looked as if they were headed for a comfortable win.With Carrick under early pressure in the scrum and Ballyclare dominating possession, it was only a matter of time before the home side took the lead. This they did after ten minutes when their inside centre breached the Carrick defence and went over following a catch and drive at a line-out. The try was converted and Ballyclare went further ahead four minutes later with a penalty. However, the visitors began to come more into the game and to make life difficult for Ballyclare. Indeed, breaks by John Anderson and Jason Wady could have led to tries had passes gone to hand. Defensively, Carrick were also solid and were probably the better side for most of the second quarter. However, all they had to show for it was a Johnny Sheriff penalty after thirty-eight minutes and went into the break trailing by 10 points to 3.
The hosts began the second half as strongly as they had the first but this time they could not turn pressure into points and Carrick began to get a measure of control, having the the better of territory and possession for much of the third quarter. They got their reward after twenty minutes of the second half when Johnny Sheriff , in a fine individual effort, beat three or four defenders to score near the posts. The out-half added the conversion points himself to tie the game at 10 points all. This seemed to galvinise the home side and they began to spend more time playing in the right areas. On twenty-eight minutes,and after an initial break by the Ballyclare scrum-half, their out-half got over the gain line and put one of the second rows in at the corner. The try was converted to give Ballyclare the lead by 17 points to 10. Carrick continued to compete but by now Ballyclare were forcing them to play from deep and the home side held on comfortably for the win.
There was a lot that was good about this Carrick performance and the defence is certainly a lot better than it was earlier in the season. The next step is for the young side to show that they can win the games they have targeted as winnable.
The Carrick side which faced Ballyclare was:-
A. McIlroy; A. McKinney(Capt), J. Anderson, J. Wady, K. Topping; J. Sheriff, G. Picken, A. Gibney, G. Baxter, R. Williams, A. Kincaid, D. Smith, C. Rodgers, N. Hanna, R. McGonigle.
Fixtures for 23rd February are:-
1st XV – no match
2nd XV vs Ballynahinch III, Cup, away
3rd XV vs Grosvenor III, Cup, away
4th XV-no match
