RUGBY: Title-chasing Bangor see off Carrick

The scrum was in difficulty throughout and at the breakdown Carrick turn-overs were well into double figures. The one solid area of play for the home side was in the line-out where Mark Patterson, Curtis Rea and Andy Kincaid provided a good supply of clean possession. Ryan McGonigle did a good job in cleaning up at the back of a retreating scrum and Glen Picken also played well.

The visitors started strongly but, frustrated by some solid Carrick defending and a tendency to kick away possession, took some time to demonstrate their superiority in the score-line. They took the lead with a penalty after six minutes but, despite their dominance of possession, did not record their first try until the 23-minute mark when they went over for an unconverted score following a line-out catch and drive.

The visitors then increased their lead 10 minutes later with another try - again from a line-out - but this time impressively from 15 metres out. Again, the try was not converted but they had a 13-0 lead at the break.

Early in the second session they extended their lead to 20 points when their inside centre ran a good line and beat the Carrick defence to touch down near the posts. This try was converted.

For much of this half, Carrick actually played in Bangor territory, thanks partly to some good line kicking by full-back Andy McIlroy but also because of Bangor’s tendency to give away penalties which eventually earned them a yellow card.

Carrick got on the score-board after 11 minutes of the half thanks to a Johnny Sheriff drop-goal, but Bangor responded from the re-start and their loose-head prop went over for a converted score following a move which went through several phases inside the Carrick 22.

The North Down men completed the scoring when their right-winger raced in from 40 metres following a slick transfer from very quick ruck ball. The extras were added making it 34-3 lead.

For much of the last fifteen minutes Carrick did dominate territory and possession but rarely had the quality of ball to allow them to pose a serious threat. Their endeavours were, however, rewarded in the closing minutes when, after incursions by Adam Gibney and Mark Patterson, winger Kenny Topping ran a good line to go in at the corner. Sheriff added the conversion points from a difficult angle.

This weekend Carrick take on Omagh at Tom Simms Memorial Park and will be hoping to complete the double over the County Tyrone side.

Carrick: A. McIlroy; A. Moore, K. Love, J. Anderson, K. Topping; J. Sheriff, G. Picken; A. Gibney, N. Hanna(Capt), R. Williams, A. Kincaid, C. Rogers, C.Rea, M. Patterson, R. McGonigle.

Elsewhere the second XV were beaten 30-26 away at Clogher Valley, while the 3rds and 4ths both lost heavily away at Ballymena and CIYMS respectively.

Fixtures: 1st XV vs Omagh, home, 2nd XV vs Omagh II, away, 3rd XV vs Dungannon IV, away, 4th XV vs Queen’s, away.