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Big squad, big hearts, big win

Wednesday, 20 January 2010

Carrick U-13 36-14 Malone U-13.
CARRICK'S youngest team has a huge squad of players and 25 of them played against Malone on Saturday. Malone and Ballynahinch have monopolized Ulster Youth rugby competitions in recent years and having soundly beaten 'Hinch three weeks ago, this match was awaited with Great Expectations.
Neither side, as it turned out, disappointed a large crowd of spectators including parents from both clubs. It was another of those games that was a joy to watch despite the opinions of the 'Doom and Gloom' brigade who say the game has lost its lustre. In an hours' rugby you could count on the fingers of two hands the number of times that both sides kicked the ball. All running, all tackling, all powerful exciting stuff!
Carrick kicked off and from the start showed they meant business with powerful drives from pack leader James Carson, John Turner and Sam Mc Murtry. In the third minute, man of the match David Stewart, captaining the side for the day on his birthday broke free and scored wide out.
The back row of Stewart, Hunter and Turner, swarmed all over the opposition and stole a ball close to the Malone line for Connor Cambridge a livewire scrum-half to feed Sam Wallace to score at the posts - a try which he converted himself. Wallace turned provider for Ross Nicholson to sprint free from the cover defense and score an unconverted try in the left corner.
Shell shocked Malone gathered themselves and Ronan Jenkinson, a great prospect for Malone at out-half made a smart break to send his inside centre in for a long range try which Jenkinson converted. The two Jakes (Porter and Gardener) who battled all day long with Malone's dangerous midfield had little intention of this happening again and all thoughts of a Malone comeback were dashed moments later when Evan Sloan made a break and Wallace's long pass found big Jake Porter who scored between the posts. Gareth Smith converted.
HALF-TIME 24-7
Few teams can make 10- changes of personnel and keep high quality but Carrick's replacements are not substitutes; they are replacements and good replacements.
On came - Rory Magill, Stefan Pollin, Ross Nelson, Jordan Deveney, Thomas Fleming, Shay Mc Cord, Daniel Mc Burney, Jordan Mc Crea and Phillip Buchanan and the changes looked seamless! Scott Henderson and Jordan Robinson piled on the agony for Malone and the Carrick front row led by young Matthew Dykes put massive pressure on the Malone scrum.
The tireless David Stewart scored his second of the game. Malone fought back and scored a battling try at the other end and Jenkinson cheekily drop kicked the conversion. The scoring was completed when Sam Wallace scored his second after young Michael Smith Junior pulled off a magnificent tackle on Carrick's Jake Gardener.
FULL-TIME 36-14
Well done to both sides. What a great game once more from two talented teams!
Carrick U15s Start New Year with a bang
CRFC U-15s 10-0 Malone U-15s
HAVING ended 2009 with a win that produced a wimper against Carrick Grammar Medallions with regards performance the team opened the new year with a bang.
A wonderful morning for rugby saw Carrickfergus welcome old friends and fierce rivals from Malone RFC for this rearranged fixture.
Having suffered what can only be described as a tanking by Malone in their early season home match in Belfast this was an indicator as to how far this Carrick team has progressed in a few short months.
Both teams were without several regulars with the home team only settling selections at half back, back row and back three following their warm up.
Carrick played uphill in the first half and it was soon evident that they were up for a rousing performance based on hard work and commitment.
Malone as was expected attempted to run the ball but severe Carrick defensive pressure had them running across the pitch and invariably being tackled well behind their gain line.
Leading the charge for Carrick was Iain McMenemin whose rampaging runs attracted several Malone defenders. Where he led John Magill Jordan Besant and Johnny Mooney playing out of position followed as mauls were driven forward and rucks cleared out with a new found conviction.
The set pieces of scrum were taken charge of by Andrew Wilson Rhys McCullough and Bradley Young, a firm hit and old style striking saw Carrick gain their own ball and a healthy bounty of tight heads
At the line out McMenemins partner in crime Matthew Wilson ruled the front and middle with John Magill scavenging the loose ball at the tail.
As the half progressed the pressure on Malone mounted and when they infringed for the third time in their own 22 Carrick took a well rehearsed and executed short penalty.
Magills decoy run drew the Malone defence and Bradley Young took the ball flat out to drag two defenders and smash over the line for what has become one of his trademark tries.
Malone came back hard as expected and it was left to a last ditch tackle by Marcus Jones to stop them in the right hand corner after their captain and number 8 had picked up from the base of a ruck and initiated a sweeping downfield move involving backs and forwards.
Half time arrived just in time for Carrick and they turned around 5-0 up to play downhill in the second half.
Carrick started the half as they had the game and really with their possession and space under the most enormous pressure rarely got past the half way line .
Lewis Stockman and Jamie Warnock steered the ship well at halfback and the centre partnership of Pete Magill and captain Darren Robinson hit the ball up hard whilst also tending to their defensive duties.
Marcus Jones whose run backs for Malones kicking game were proving to be a strong feature of his game was supported by wingers Josh Thompson & Adam Williams who showed good foot speed in confined spaces.
The home forwards were well in command at this stage and it was no surprise that another of McMenemins "bull in a china shop" runs yielded him the second try for a 10-0 lead.
With five minutes on the clock Malone tried hard but in vain to mount a meaningful attack and Carrick played the clock down in the Malone half of the pitch. for a 10-0 victory.
This was a win based on a team work ethic with the Carrick boys showing one hundred per cent commitment to themselves their team mate and their coaches.
This team is still work in progress but with this mentality and hard work then anything is possible. A good start to the new year but the weeks to come bring new challenges which the team must rise to.
Joint man of the match, Marcus Jones and Iain McMenemin.
Team M Jones A Williams D Robinson P Magill J Thompson J Warnock L Stockman A Wilson R McCullough B Young I McMenemin M Wilson J Magill J Mooney J Besant C Reid D Henderson J McCracken
Under 17s push Malone all the way
Carrick U17s 5-12 Malone U17s
CARRICK Under 17's came up against one of the premiership league leaders at their Woodlawn home.
The coaches of this developing side were using this match as a bench mark to gauge how the side was progressing having previously been heavily defeated by Malone early in the season by 42pts.
The side lead by Johnny Murray crashed into Malone head on in the early exchanges with some bone crunching tackles being put in by both sides. Neither side seemed willing to give an inch in what was rapidly becoming an enthralling contest.
Carrick made the first break through with Reece Hamilton scoring a try after following up a box kick from scrumhalf Adam Lusty. The conversion being missed.
Malone pressed into the Carrick half for the remainder of the half being rewarded with a try just on half time.Half time score 5-5.
The now size-able crowd cheering on Carrick were entertained by both sides in a great hard fought contest.
Carrick pinned Malone back into their own half for long periods in the second half with Marcus Brush,Andrew Magill,Adam Lusty and Jordan Patchett only being stopped from scoring by last ditch tackling from Malone.
The last ten minutes of the game saw Malone coming back into the game pressing hard on the Carrick line but stubborn defence from the outstanding Carrick back row of Ferris, McAllister and Arnstrong held the visitors out.
With only two minutes the Carrick defence was finally breached with Malone scoring a converted try. Final Score Carrick 5-12 Malone.
The Carrick coaches were delighted with the performance which can only bode well with the Cup coming up.
Carrick man of the Match No 8 Mark Ferris.

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