Carrick OS RFC 17
Gort RFC 41
Carrick-on-Shannon and Gort contested the Under 13 Boys Plate final in Dubarry Park, Athlone on Sunday.
A mild day played on an outstanding wide pitch with a strong breeze that favoured Carrick in the first half. Gort were lightning fast out of the blocks, with their number 13, who had an outstanding game, scoring under the posts with only a couple of minutes on the clock. Gort scored 3 further tries without reply in the first 20 minutes, with Carrick struggling to make their first up tackles on the Gort danger men. Carrick battled hard to get into the game, the contest at the breakdown was excellent from both sides. Carrick eventually got some flow going and scored a well worked try to finish the first half 22 points to 5.
The second half was a tighter affair. Despite the strong breeze both sides played the game with ball in hand, with not a single line out in the entire game. Although Gort scored first Carrick responded with two excellent tries of their own bringing the score to 29 points to 17 in favour of Gort. Carrick will be disappointed that they failed to capitalise on multiple opportunities to narrow the gap further, excellent phase play but unfortunately not releasing the final ball to the boys outside them. Gort scored two further late tries to leave the final score 41 points to 17.
Carrick RFC U13’s would like to thank Connacht rugby for an exceptionally well ran Cup competition, thank you to the referee on the day who contributed so much to the quality of the encounter and finally congratulations and well done to Gort RFC on their very well deserved victory. We look forward to the off season, will learn from this defeat and will be back better and stronger in the Autumn.
