The Carrick 1st XV lost their first League match of 2014, going down by 25 points to nil to League leaders Ballyclare at Tom Simms Memorial Park on Saturday 11th January. The Maxol-sponsored Carrick side were always struggling against the their sharper East Antrim rivals who took their chances when they came and defended resolutely when Carrick were dominating possession as they did for long periods in the second half. The home side simply could not get over the gain line often enough to set up line threatening attacks. They defended well enough but the line-out did not function as smoothly as in recent weeks and Carrick suffered from their old problems of conceding unnecessary penalties and not holding onto the ball for long enough to build pressure. The final score of 25 points to nil was probably unfair to Carrick in that they did keep battling until the end and there was a large touch of good fortune about the final Ballyclare score. That said, the visitors were worthy winners and look more than capable of going on to take the League title. For Carrick, hooker Richard Higgins was prominent in the loose both as tackler and ball winner while Adam Gibney, Robbie Williams and Ryan McGonigle carried strongly. Indeed, if all of the Carrick players had Higgins’ work rate, it would probably be Carrick and not Ballyclare closing in on the League title!
Ballyclare started strongly and deservedly took the lead after fifteen minutes when their right winger rounded the Carrick defence to score in the corner. The try was converted from a difficult angle. The visitors continued to dominate teritory and possession and extended their lead with a penalty goal after twenty-eight minutes. In the closing stages of the half, the home side began to come more into the game and were unfortunate not to put points on the board when a Luke Whitall penalty effort came back off the cross-bar. Despite conceding a number of turn-overs to Carrick in the closing stages of the half, Ballyclare held onto their 10 points to nil lead until half-time.
In the early stages of the second half, the visitors continued to apply pressure but their only reward was another penalty goal twelve minutes into the half. The home side then began to come more into the game and had a number of lengthy spells of possession inside Ballyclare territory but could not breach the visitors’ excellent defence. With thirteen minutes remaining, and somewhat against the run of play at this stage, Ballyclare increased their lead when their open-side flanker went over. This followed a well directed cross-kick to the left wing where the ball was gathered, re-cycled and moved swiftly right where Ballyclare were able to exploit a shortage of Carrick defenders. The try was not converted and from then on Carrick pretty well controlled possession and teritory until Ballyclare snatched a try in injury time, their inside centre grabbing a fortunate ricochet and running a good line to score near the posts. The try was converted to give the visitors a perhaps somewhat flattering 25 points to nil victory.
Carrick must now pick themselves up to face Malone II in a Conference League encounter at Gibson Park next Saturday.
The Carrick team which faced Ballyclare was:-
L. Whitall; B. Alexander, J. Cullen, R. Hamilton, J. Wady; J. Sheriff, A. McKinney; A. Gibney, R. Higgins, R. Williams, C. Rodgers, A. Kincaid(Capt), N. Marsden, C. Rea, R. McGonigle.
