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Carrick Rugby Club Year in Review

Wednesday, 13 January 2010

THE CARRICK 1st XV have had a mixed season so far, winning four from nine League matches. Their cause has not been helped by a catalogue of injuries and it was rare to see the same back-line on the field two weeks in a row. Despite this, they have put in some good performances and at least two of the games in which they were beaten could so easily have gone the other way.
It is heartening to see some very good young players coming through from the Carrick age group structure, this season and last.Stuart Currie, Mattie Hadden, Michael Patterson, Jason Wady, Michael Gilmore, Ross Crymble and Jim Neill have all looked more than comfortable playing Qualifying League rugby.
The 1sts, along with the other teams, have been working hard during 'the freeze' and are looking forward to getting back into action. They await a date for the postponed Towns' Cup encounter with Dromore and resume League action at home to UUC on 23 January.
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AS WE start the new decade the second XV sit at the top of Junior 2, following their promotion last season. Even more impressive is that they are four points clear and in their last match of 2009, beat the previously undefeated Cooke 2s.
They followed this up on the second of January in probably the only club game played in Ulster, when they defeated their local rivals Larne 2s, 20 pts to seven points. Captain Jamesy Hagan and Manager Billy Montgomery will be keen to keep the guys focused on staying at the top of the table but it will take a combined effort by all, to get their second promotion in a row.
The third XV turned the year in joint fourth in Minor East 1, having some good results this season to date. It has been a transition year for the side with the stalwarts of the side mixing well will with a new crop of young players. This has produced some excellent games of rugby and it has also been pleasing to see increased numbers from the side regularly turning out at training. Skipper Craig McArthur is keen to achieve a top three position and see his side progress through the Butler Shield.
The 4th XV having lost only one match this season, placing them on the top of Minor East 2. A mixture of the regular 'Grimreapers', alongside some younger faces have made them the side to catch. Captain Danny Thomas will have a packed second half of the season with a number of matches already having to be rescheduled but are firmly focused on collecting the league title at the end of the season.
A welcome boost to the teams has seen long term absentees, Johnny McConnell, John McDowell and David Bowes return, making for even greater competition for places.
The U19s in their first season have had a mixed bag of results but with the fixtures in place for the second half of the season Captain Chris Ferris and Coach Warren McClean are looking for a more settled run, along with welcoming back a number of players from long term injury.
Carrickfergus Youth have been producing some superb results in their first season in the Premier league. This league is made up of nearly all senior clubs in Ulster, which has seen them travelling to every part of the province. However Mark Kidd and his excellent group of coaches have risen to the challenge, with the boys picking up some great results both home and away. This has led to the U13s and 17s enjoying healthy mid table positions, while the U15s are in second place.
So while we await the thaw from the 'Big Freeze', all the teams continue to maintain their fitness levels, training three times a week, in anticipation of getting back to playing and achieving the goals ahead of them for the rest of the season.