Carrick RFC 45
Carrick’s U15’s kicked off their Division 1A League campaign on Saturday against Galway Bay RFC. With these teams last playing in the Connacht Cup final last season, it promised to be an evenly matched affair.
The conditions were dry despite the heavy rainfall leading up to the match, but strong crosswinds would challenge skillsets.
Carrick got of a strong start scoring their first try within the first minute of the game through phase play off a line out near the halfway line and good ball distribution between backs and forwards.
A second try followed eight minutes later from a quick tap penalty 5 meters from Galway Bay’s goal line. Carrick exited well from the kick off kick off and after an exchange of kicks from either side, Carrick cut through Galway Bay’s defense with an offload from forwards into an open gate in Galway Bay’s defense – with still some footwork to do to take care of the remaining defenders Carrick scored their third try of the match.
Galway Bay’s backline attempted to run the ball from a scrum just outside their 22, but a missed catch was swiftly picked up by Carrick’s backline who counter attacked with a switch pass and balls through hands to score their fourth try of the match to lead 26-0 with 10 minutes remaining in the first half.
A pick by Galway Bay from the base of a scrum and brilliant individual run on the blind side lead to a well deserved try under the post to make score 26-7 with five minutes left remaining in the first half. In the last minute of the first half and with Carrick attacking in Galway Bay’s 22, a turnover at the ruck allowed Galway Bay to quickly counter attack with good ball distribution to their wing who ran the length of the pitch to score another try for Galway Bay under the post to make the half time score 26-14.
Carrick was on the attack just outside Galway Bay’s 22 in the opening exchanges of the first half when a pass was intercepted by Galway Bay which lead to another try for Galway Bay under the post to narrow Carrick’s lead to 26-21.
But Carrick regrouped, stayed calm and stuck to their game plan to score three more unanswered tries to make the final score 45-21.
Carrick wishes to thank Galway Bay’s coaches and management team for a competitive game played and managed in good spirit promoting the ongoing positive relationship between both teams.
