Carrick-on-Shannon U14s welcomed Galway Bay to the Castlecara on Saturday.
A mild day with the pitch in great condition for the time of year. Galway Bay, playing with the wind, got off to a lighting fast start scoring in the corner with less than a minute gone. Carrick enjoyed plenty of possession and field position over the next 10 minutes or more but failed to convert it into points with Galway Bay making great use of their possession to score a try in the same corner as the first. A further try each left the score 5 to 17 for the visiting side.
Carrick continued to have the better of possession, dominating the scrums and were relatively in control at the breakdown. Plenty of strong individual carry’s up the middle but without making the best use of the ball or testing the defence out wide. After 15 minutes a wayward pass was intercepted by Galway Bay deep inside their 22 and ran the length of the field. A further try from an exceptional individual effort and double grubber kick from well inside the Galway Bay half left Carrick chasing the game. To their credit Carrick never gave up the fight scoring a converted try late in the game to leave the final score 12 v 27.
Galway Bay the better team on the day with their use of the ball brilliant at times. Carrick will be frustrated that they did not convert their possession into more scoring opportunities. However valuable game time in new positions for several that will stand to the squad. The team look forward to welcoming Galwegians to the Castlecara in two weeks time.
