And so the U18 season started with our usual “three x 20mins” warmup game against Carrick. This year, as well as losing players who had moved on to university and senior rugby (congratulations to Rory Henry on making his 1st XV debut last week), we also lost several other players to work commitments and studying at the Belfast Met, and where apparently if they do the rugby academy course, they are told by their tutors that they “must” are "strongly advised" to play for the Met...
Anyway, some good pre-season work by the coaches and managers, has seen the recruitment of several new players (and some who had last played for Malone Minis returning), but this was the first full game run out together.

From the whistle, Carrick put the boys under sustained periods of pressure with some good phase play and using their much bigger pack to their advantage, but the Malone defence, although initially slow at getting into shape was able to hold them out. However a penalty for Malone high tackle in our 22, saw Carrick take the quick tap and catching our players napping scored a converted try. Score 7-0
This lapse seemed to kick our guys into gear, because from the restart we secured possession and with several phases across the pitch entered the Carrick 22. Some strong running from Matthew M, Aaron and Sean saw Malone within 10m of Carrick’s line when from the back of a ruck, up popped Conor W to drive over the line. Conversion by Matty Mc was good. Score 7-7.
Carrick restart caught by Connor C, and along with Sean who drove him forward, gained good yardage before being taken to ground and from the resulting ruck Ruairi G popped the ball to Matty who chipped it for Mark A to chase. With just too much on it, the ball was caught by the Carrick wing, who was bundled into touch by Mark A.
A great take in the line out by Curly saw the ball popped out to the backs and some slick passing and good running lines from Ruairi, Matty Mc & Matty H saw the Oran power under the posts for Malone’s second try, again converted by Matty Mc. Score 7-14 and the end of the first 20min.

Malone made several changes both in players and positions for the second period, and now playing “downhill” (you can guess which pitch we were on!) were very much more on the front foot. General forward movement and support play was also better, and we were getting to the breakdown much quicker than Carrick as some of their large pack were starting to slow to little more than a walk.
Although Malone were now getting into their stride, there were still some errors with decision making, slow ball and some passes just not going to hand. Again lots of phases and ball retention, but just lacking a breakthrough as the Carrick defence creaked, but held solid several times in their 22.
A poor clearance kick from Carrick saw a Malone lineout just outside the 22, a clean catch and driving maul saw Malone heading towards the Carrick line before the ball was popped out to Colman on the wing who stepped past the Carrick wing and full-back to score in the corner. Conversion missed, score 7-19.
Another great restart take, this time by Conor W, saw him offload to Christian, who, with the wind behind him (or was it the going downhill?) make a barnstorming run down the left wing. Unfortunately the Carrick winger was no match for the “wrecking ball”, and the sight of him bouncing backwards, along with the sharp intake of air through gritted teeth from the far sideline more than told the impact of the hit. It did however slow him enough that three Carrick players were able to bundle him into touch. From the Carrick lineout Curly stole the ball, and the resulting maul saw Christian again head towards the line, but with a few Carrick players starting to hang off him, he popped the ball Colman who just before being tackled into touch neatly popped the ball back inside for Matty H to cross the line in the corner. Conversion missed, score 24-7.
From the restart Malone gained possession, but some loose play and even looser passing saw Carrick gain ground into our 22. Another high tackle penalty, another quick tap saw Carrick use their big forwards to drive over the line for a converted try. Score 14-24 and end of the second 20min.

The third period saw Carrick (their turn for downhill again!) apply pressure to Malone up front and the slower pace that some of their forwards took in the second period obviously did them good. Again Malone defence was under pressure, but was holding firm as Carrick got ever closer to our line. A Carrick ruck just on our 5m and although it appeared to “most” people that the scrum half knocked on will picking the ball, no whistle was heard and he sniped round to score. Conversion missed, score 19-24.

Suddenly Carrick were right back in this – how would the guys react. Well just as I was writing down the previous score, the restart was taken, gathered by Malone’s forwards, who picked and drove it the whole way up the pitch for Conor W to power over the line in the top corner. That’s how they reacted. Superbly! Conversion missed by Oran, score 19-29.
The next few minutes saw play stagnate between the two 10m lines as both teams attacked, turned over and defended with little chances for a break, until after what seemed about twenty phases and Matty H spotted a chink of light in the Carrick defence, and with a deft sidestep, passed his man and sprinted in for his second (and Malone’s sixth) try. Conversion by Matty Mc was good, score 19-36.
Another couple of minutes play between the 10m lines followed the restart, when after a Carrick dropped pass, the ref blew for full time. Final Score 19-36
Overall a beneficial training game that has given players and coaches food for thought and things to work on in the next few weeks before the league starts on 29th Sept.

Forwards: Sean Kielt, Connor Crutchley, Matthew Murray, Conor Watt, Eoin McKernan, Christian Onella, Ryan McKenzie, Aaron McClure, Antony O’Neill, Ronan Heggarty-Moore
Backs: Ruairi Gallagher, Matty McDowell, Matty Hamilton, Oran O’Neill, Mark Abraham, Colman Bernard, Timmy Cunnane, Fergus Wilson

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