Limavady get the better of Carrick

The visitors deserved their victory because they displayed more urgency in all aspects of the game and took their chances when they came.

In short, they appeared to want the win more than Carrick. Indeed, Carrick dominated possession and territory in the final quarter, as against Randalstown the previous week, but again could not conjure up a try. They were chasing at least a losing bonus-point, but simply could not turn possession and field position into points.

The scrum was fairly evenly contested between the sides, but Limavady had the better of the line-out and were more committed at the break-down.

After an even first 10 minutes, it was the visitors who scored first following a line-out in the Carrick 22. They drove and quickly re-cycled the ball for their out-half to put in a beautifully weighted kick for their right-winger who spun out of a tackle for an uncoverted score.

Both sides were finding it difficult in the wet conitions, but Limavady showed a greater ability to hang on to possession and deservedly increased their lead with a penalty after 30 minutes.

This seemed to spur Carrick into action and they came very close when Karl Love made a break which took him up to the line. Limavady’s out-half earned a yellow card for an early tackle on the intended recipient of Love’s pass. It could be argued that a penalty-try should have been awarded but Carrick had to be content with a penalty which Johnny Sheriff duly converted.