I caught up with the Provincial Premier 1 match between Carrickfergus and Belfast Harlequins 2nd XV’s in an early kick off at the Tom Simms Memorial Park on Saturday afternoon.
It was a real war of attrition in the first 15 minutes as Quins kept Carrick pinned in their own half. The home defence was up to the task, with some good turnovers near their line, but the pressure eventually told and a break and offload by Quins’ Charlie Beattie sent wing forward Adam Finlay over for the opening score. Beattie converted to give Quins a 0 – 7 lead.
Carrick spent a fair amount of time in Quins territory in the next 20 minutes but they were unable to break the stubborn Quins defence and the teams turned round with the visitors defending the 7 point lead.
A sprightly start to the second half saw Carrick’s Fionn McCormack go over for a try, which he converted himself to take the score to 7 – 7.
However Quins went back in front 10 minutes later with replacement Paddy Hall picking a good line to cross for a try, converted by Beatie. The Quins’ replacements made a big difference in the humid conditions and Hall stretched over, in traffic, for his second try 9 minutes later. Beattie again converted to push the score out to 7 – 21.
Carrick struggled with the conditions and Quins ran in two more in the closing minutes with Ollie Hamilton going over for a converted try before Ben Neill wrapped it up with a try in the last play to take the final score to Carrick II 7 Quins II 33.
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