Late, late show as Ballyclare get the better of rivals Carrick in league

The final margin of victory doesn’t reflect how tight this game was. With 15 minutes of normal time left, and Carrick leading by seven points, the referee sent two Carrick players off and one Ballyclare player to the sin bin and this seemed to change the course of the game.

The home side already had a player in the bin so it was not the immediate numerical advantage which changed things, rather it was the loss of two of Carrick’s most influential players which appeared to affect the team as the momentum swung in the home team’s favour.

During the time the Carrick players were off, and after the first sin-binned Ballyclare player came back on, the hosts scored two converted tries and then added the bonus-point try in the dying minutes of the game.

For Carrick, out-half Luke Whitall had an outstanding game, both with ball in hand and, especially, in kicking all of Carrick’s points from penalties.

The back row was once again highly effective, with Neil Marsden, Chris Ferris and Curtis Rea, who played much of the game carrying an injury, working well at the break-down and as ball carriers. Ferris, Rea, Rodgers and Kincaid were all effective in the line-out, winning their own throws and stealing a few from Ballyclare.

Carrick started well and took the lead with a Luke Whitall penalty after just three minutes. The out-half was on target aagain five minutes later to increase Carrick’s lead to 6-0.

However, after 15 minutes, the home side found space on the outside of a rather narrow Carrick defence to score in the corner.

With Ballyclare now getting the better of territory and possession, it was no surprise that they took the lead after 23 minutes with a penalty.

As the half wore on, Carrick began to make more frequent forays into their opponent’s territory and, after a good run by Whitall, they were awarded a penalty which the out-half duly put over to give the visitors a 9-8 lead which they held until half-time.

In the early stages of the second half, Carrick seemed to be growing in confidence and they increased their lead 13 minutes in with another Whitall penalty.

Three minutes later, after a great run by Brian Alexander, Carrick won another break-down penalty, with the offfending Ballyclare player sent to the bin, and Whitall adding the points to make it 15-8.

At this point, Carrick appeared to have the edge but then came the multiple sending-offs changing the complexion of the game.

With 10 minutes to go, Ballyclare again found Carrick short of numbers out wide and got in for their second try which was converted to level the scores.

Five minutes later their excellent fly-half, Niall Lawther, who had caused the Carrick defence problems all afternoon, beat two defenders to go over near the posts.

Again, the try was converted and the hosts added a fourth try, after finding Carrick short of numbers on the outside. This try was also converted to leave the final score 29-15 in Ballyclare’s favour.

This week, Carrick are at home to Academy who were within a missed conversion of beating Ballyclare a few weeks ago.

Carrick RFC: A. McKinney; B. Alexander, J. Cullen, J. Sheriff, N. Hastings; L. Whitall, K. Topping; E. Peacock, N. Hanna, R. Williams, A. Kincaid (c), C. Rodgers, C. Ferris, N. Marsden, C. Rea.