U16's Strong Win Away at Carrick

Sat 10th saw the U16's nip down the shores of Belfast lough to play our friends at Carrick. This was the first year we played them in the League as previously they were always the section above us, although we always played warm up games against them.
From the start, Carrick looked to be a very different side to the one we narrowly lost to in a warm up game a few weeks earlier, with a much larger pack and a several "new" faces.
Maybe because it was an away fixture, or the strong win the previous week or because it's a team we know quite well, but the guys started their warm up in a very laissez faire attitude (google it guys :-) ), while Carrick seemed to be very pumped up.
A few choice words from the coaching staff and a combative team talk from captain Jack H soon got the Malone "game" heads on.

This could be seen straight from the kick off, with Malone putting all the pressure on Carrick and keeping them in their half, but we were failing to capitalise on both possession and territory. The first Carrick scrum saw the Malone pack drive forward and Carrick were deemed to have collapsed - penalty Malone. A quick tap from Andrew saw him on a solo run for the line, being unsupported the resulting tackle from Carrick saw him held up before the line and then penalised for holding on.
10 minutes gone and about 70% Malone possession but nothing to show for it. This pressure and dominance situation continued for another 10 mins or so, before it eventually saw Andrew score in the corner from the back of a ruck 5m from the Carrick line. Conversion missed by Jack Mc, score was 5-0 to Malone. The Carrick 10 took the restart quickly and before their big pack could get into position, and it was caught by Christian who side stepped two oncoming Carrick players to sprint and score under the posts. Conversion missed by Jack L, score was 10-0 to Malone and on the cusp of half time.

The second half started very much like the first - much Malone possession and dominance, but again no points being put on the board. Again we very much camped in the Carrick 22 and eventually we were able to turn this pressure into points when from a scrum about 15m from the line, Paddy picked up at no.8 and offloaded to Brian at scrum half, then on to Jack Mc who being tackled just before the line managed to get a pass off behind his back to Brian who dived over to score. Another conversion missed by Jack Mc - score 15-0 to Malone.
The restart saw us back around the Carrick 22 for another period of play, and as the final minutes of the game were ticking down, Carrick got a scrum about 10 m from their line. Quick ball saw their no.12 sprint towards the Malone line - several very sloppy missed tackles (can you feel the coaches frustration), saw him score just to the right of the posts. Conversion good, score was now 15-7 to Malone. Play restarted for a few minute then final whistle went as ball went out of play.

Overall it was a frustrating day at the office, although Malone had considerable possession and territory, they failed to convert this into points be it by poor decision making or poor running lines. A more mobile opposition pack could have seen a very different result and this will give the squad several things to work on at the next training session.
We are a new team with several of last years U16's merging in with the U14's who came up and it is a work in progress but one which has very definite potential.
The win, no matter how frustrating it was to get, is a win and when the pressure was on, the guys stepped up to the mark to give a solid performance (albeit erratic at times). This can only improve as the season continues with the squad get more training and game play time together.