Clydebank Rugby Club crush Carrick

Published 7 Oct 2009 14:00

Clydebank 16 Carrick 5

CLYDEBANK faced Carrick at home with a number of regular players missing from the starting line-up.

But the depth of the squad proved to be sufficient to handle the visitors on a wet and windy day at Whitecrook.

With the wind advantage in the first half not being used as much as it could have been, it took a strong performance from the team as a whole to hold out in the second half to get a 16-7 win.

The first half should have given Clydebank a firm base to work from with the strong wind at their backs, but it was not to be.

The first contact saw No.8 Scott McIntosh carried off with a hamstring injury which unsettled the team early on.

Clydebank re-grouped and started to put pressure on the Carrick defence.

A penalty for Clydebank on seven minutes opened the scoring, with Ross Moffatt converting.

Sustained pressure gave Clydebank two further penalties on the quarter-hour mark, but the swirling wind proved hazardous for Moffatt, who failed to convert either one.

Soon after, a break and chip ahead by Moffatt set up David Smart who followed through and collected the ball at the same time as the Carrick defender.

Both players grappled for the ball as they crossed the line.

The Carrick player maintained sufficient contact as the ball was touched down for the referee to give Carrick the benefit of the doubt, yet Clydebank were awarded an attacking five-yard scrum.

Clydebank kept up the pressure for the next

five minutes with Derek Nolan eventually crossing the line, but once more Carrick were judged to have prevented the touch down.

Carrick had survived the onslaught but Clydebank would convert another penalty just after the half hour point to take a 6-0 lead.

Clydebank pushed again in the final minutes of the half and forced Carrick back to their line.

Another penalty by Carrick on the five-yard line looked like another kicking opportunity for Clydebank but a quick thinking Derek Nolan took a quick tap penalty and charged the line and touched down for the first try.

With the conversion missed Clydebank led 11-0 as the first half ended.

With the wind advantage in the second half Carrick were confident and this showed when their backs took their first chance to run through the Clydebank defence and touch down to narrow the gap.

The conversion put the score at 11-7 and gave the Clydebank support a nasty scare.

Several minutes later Carrick looked like they would repeat the feat but the Clydebank defence stopped them short of the line. The resulting scrum was won by Clydebank and Ross McCombe cleared the danger with a long kick for touch against the strong wind.

Clydebank regained their composure once more and set about the task of getting up the park to put the pressure back on Carrick.

A break by Paul Andrew on 50 minutes did just that.

Several phases of play later and Clydebank had a line out on the Carrick five-yard line.

Another fine take in the line-out by Don Ross set up the maul that swept over the Carrick line.

As the maul crossed the line Joe Moore was in possession and he touched down for the second Clydebank try.

The missed conversion left the score at 16-7.

Clydebank kept their heads and maintained the pressure on Carrick, breaking through several times.

James Roberts made a sneaky break down the wing after peeling off from the base of a maul.

Catching the Carrick defence off guard he made a 40-yard run deep into the Carrick half.

Clydebank repeatedly drove at the visitor's defence, which this time held strong. Eventually, the final whistle blew and Clydebank held out for their fifth win out of five.

The second XV broke their duck for the year as they triumphed away from home against the police, beating them 38-27.

A number of new starts at the club pulled on the red and black for their first match and all of them scored in the process.

There were six tries in all with old heads Jim Welson, Neil McKenzie and Colin Dow each crossing the line while new starts Ross Strachan, Andy Lyle and Stephen Barnett each got a try.

Four conversions by Mick Duncan (three) and Colin Dow (one) completed the scoring.

The under-14 side joined up with Lomond to play Helensburgh.

With a wide range of ages present on both sides the players from all three clubs were mixed up to ensure an even match was played.

Training will continue at Whitecrook on Tuesday and Thursday nights at 7pm for both senior and under-17 players.

The S1, S2 and under-15 age groups will train on the same nights between 5.30pm and 7pm.

Anyone at primary or secondary school who would like to take up rugby should contact Gordon McCombe (07812 582775) or Michael Starkey (07792 154625) for details.

Clydebank are currently seeking team sponsors.

Anyone interested in supporting their local rugby club should email sponsorship@clydebankrfc.com for details.

Next Saturday the first XV and second XV teams travel to Stranraer to play Wigtownshire, while the under-15s play Cartha QP at home and the under-17s play Cambuslang away.

Clydebank under-17s unveiled their new strip for this season.

The club teamed up with the company Newsprinters who are sponsoring the under-17 side.

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This article appeared in Clydebank Post 14 Oct 09

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