MATCH REPORT

BHSFPRFC V CARRICKFERGUS RFC

On a dry day at Greenisland High School were hosts to Carrick in this local derby match. With High School still without a win in the League it was important that they came away from this game with some points on the board.

The game got underway and with proceedings less than a minute old Carrick were awarded a penalty within easy kicking distance. The penalty attempt was good and the visitors were quickly in the lead. A few minutes later another penalty to Carrick was put wide as both teams tried to get the upper hand. It was nip and tuck up front with the larger Carrick pack unable to take charge against the High School eight.

During the first half the game was punctuated by injury stoppages and once again it looked as though High School would suffer reduced numbers as Alan Charters took a knock to the leg. He was able to carry on though and for the next thirty minutes neither side was able to add to the scoreline.

With the game thirty five minutes old Carrick ran in a try from a neat bit of individual play. A kick and catch caught the High School defence napping and with the score under the posts the conversion was simple. Suddenly from a position where both teams were competing fairly evenly the home side were facing a ten point gap which within the space of three minutes was widened further when Carrick ran in a good try through slick handling in the backline. The conversion was once again good and as the referee brought the game to a halt at half time High School faced an up hill task in the second half.

The second half started with High School reduced to fourteen men as Davy Henry received treatment for a damaged hand. An early penalty was missed by Carrick but with the High School backline out of position Carrick took advantage to run in another try. The points were unconverted.

At this point Davy Henry and Alan Charters were both forced to leave the field through injury reducing the High School side to thirteen men and the introduction of uncontested scrums.

The High School pack , although reduced to six men were proving a handful for the Carrick side and it was during the third quarter of the game that the home side played their best rugby of the match. With no quarter being given or taken the high School pack secured field position in the Carrick 22. The backline ran the ball back and forth between ruck and maul and eventually the Carrick defence cracked under the strain as Neil Hastings finished off the pressure with a well taken try. The try was unconverted.

The visitors retaliated quickly though and five minutes later ran in another converted try that finished their points tally for the day. The final fifteen minutes were scoreless as High School continued to batter the Carrick defence which stood firm for the remainder of the match.

As the game moved to a close the referee pulled out the yellow card reducing the home side to twelve men for the final three minutes.

At the final whistle the Carrick team ran out winners by a considerable margin and overall deserved their victory as the better side on the day. High School can take some positives from the game but need to get back into winning ways quickly.

Final Score BHSFP 5 - 29 CARRICK