Carrickfergus RFC Notes: Maxol I XV 7 v Grosvenor RFC I XV 42

The Maxol-sponsored Carrick 1st XV finished their League programme with a 42 points to 7 loss to Grosvenor at Tom Simms Memorial Park on Saturday 31 March. This was meant to have been an away fixture but, because of pitch unavailabilty, was swtched to Carrick. Because a number pf players were not available, Carrick were forced into half a dozen changes from the side which had beaten Enniskillen the previous week. This resulted in a very inexperienced team facing Grosvenor and this showed up in terms of defensive organisation, the number of penalties conceded and the use Carrick were abe to make of the ball when they had it. The well drilled visitors made sure that they played the game in the right areas of the field and punished Carrick errors ruthlessly. After a bright start, with the only score being a Grosvenor penalty, Carrick leaked two tries around the twenty minute mark and two more ten to twelve minutes later to leave the visitors with a 25 points to nil lead. Carrick replied with a try from a tap penalty when Nathan Greenwood went over following a well-timed pass by Adam Gibney. In the second half, Carrick conceded three more tries, two when down to fourteen men. When reduced to thirteen, when the again impressive Curtis Rea had to leave the field, the referee blew for full time.
Despite this loss, there have been positive signs from the young Carrick team in recent weeks, particularly the demolition of Enniskillen, and they will be hoping for a better outcome in terms of League position next season.
The Carrick team was:
L. Inch; B. Alexander, S. Irwin, A. McKinney(Capt), D. Crothers; L. Totten, D. Moore; A. Gibney, G. McKeown, E. McBrien, C. Rea, N. Greenwood, R. Williams, R. Marsden, R. McGonigle.
On Wednesday evening, the Carrick Under 19s progressed to the semi-final of the Nutty Krust competition with a convincing 19 points to 5 win over Enniskillen. The Carrick try scorers were Reece Hamilton, Mark Ferris and Dale Wilson. Adam Kendell converted two of the tries. On Saturday 7 April, the Under 19s face Rainey at home in the semi-final of the Plate competition. The semi-final of the Nutty Crust competition is on 24 April.
On Saturday, Carrick Under 15s beat Ballynahinch by 31 points to 10 in the quarter-final of their Cup competition while the Under 13s progressed to the semi-final of the Bowl competition with a 38 points to 12 win over Dromore.
Disappointingly , The Under 17s went out of the main Cup competition when they were beaten by 32 points to 10 by Randalstown.