A soaring start to season for Eagles Sterling defence by Shire side seals match
CARRICK PERTHSHIRE 31 43 Seven tries in a fast-paced game saw Perthshire gain their first win of the season.
Before the Eagles visit to South Ayrshire last Saturday, coaches Alan Clark and Mark Coupar may have been concerned that the severe injuries that have plagued the side already this season could have meant a repeat of last year’s calamity at Maybole. But those wrongs were righted this time.
The pitch was soft with some puddles but otherwise conditions were near perfect for rugby.
The opening minutes saw Perthshire penetrate deep into Carrick territory.
Countless attacks were rebuffed and twice ‘Shire were held up over the line. The pressure eventually told and with about 10 minutes on the clock, Jay Pettie squeezed over in the left corner for the opening unconverted try.
Perthshire were soon back in the Carrick 22 and had won a scrum.
A neat pick off the back by number eight James Mair saw the ball passed through the hands to Scott Alcorn who used his paced to get round his man and neatly touchdown in the right corner.
But again, the conversion was missed.
Moments later after fielding the restart, Perthshire worked the ball left then spun it out quickly right. Seeing acres of space fullback Jonny Armitt came into the line and sent up a howitzer of kick.
With no opposition near, second row Ewan MacKessack-Leitch plucked the ball out of the air, drew the defence then passed to Scott Alcorn who looked to be sure for another try.
He was just caught by a cover tackle, but the offload to Jonny Armitt was spot on and he scored in the right corner for an unconverted try.
Carrick had hardly touched the ball but now after some cheap penalties had possession in the ‘Shire 22.
Numerous short phases were held out but finally the defence was outmanoeuvred and Carrick opened their account with a try under the posts which was duly converted.
The Perth response was immediate, Carrick’s touchline clearance from the restart found Sammy Isac who ran and kept running up the left wing dodging and overcoming the scramble defence.
Ultimately, he was caught five metres short and gave the offload to the supporting Ewan MacKessack-Leitch but it went over his head and into the grateful hands of James Mair who ran in under the posts for the bonus point try. Jonny Armitt added the extras.
Discipline again was a problem for Perthshire. The referee was calling them offside and penalising any remotely high tackle.
The momentum swung towards Carrick and after failing to take an interception Sammy Isac was sent to the sin bin for 10 minutes as he was adjudged to have deliberately knocked on.
From the following lineout Carrick used their one-man advantage, pulled the defence in then crossed the whitewash in the right corner; which was converted.
As half time beckoned Perthshire had a lineout 10m from the Carrick line. Ross Dougan found his man in the lineout who sent to scrum half Ryan Miller.
The backs all offered an option, it was Matt Rae who received the ball, found space through the centre, stepped the fullback and dived for the final try of the half.
Jonny Armitt knocked over the two points and it remained Carrick 14,Perthshire 29 until halftime.
Head coach Alan Clark asked for more of the same in attack come the second half, but also warned the need to keep discipline and improve defensive line-speed.
From the off Perthshire attacked. The ball was kicked deep to Jay Pettie who put on the after burners and seared 70 metres up the middle of the pitch before he popped the ball to supporting Adam Dearden who earned Perthshire’s sixth try. Jonny Armitt converted.
The referee, again strictly enforcing the offside line, awarded penalties to Carrick who punished Perthshire with a further two tries as the third quarter ended.
Debutant Adrian Venter came off the bench to add some pace and fresh legs.
An injury to Jay Pettie necessitated a reshuffle. Flanker Shaun Barton went on to the wing and the forwards rotated with Blair Twaddell and Kieran McLean coming on while Ali Nisbett, who had put 100 per cent into his shift, was substituted.
With the game slipping away from them, Carrick became more fraught.
A disagreement with the referee saw a yellow card reducing the Ayrshire team to 14 for the final 10 minutes.
It was not long before Perthshire exploited their advantage.
Scott Alcorn sent a neat kick down field, the retreating fullback missed the ball as he went to collect it allowing a charging Sammy Isac to dive on it, stand up, step forward and dive over for Perthshire’s final try of the match.
Clinical Jonny Armitt again fired the ball between the posts.
Alas, there was one more act to follow. A mistake handed the ball to Carrick who got into the Perthshire 22.
A ruck penalty was awarded and both teams thought it was theirs.
The referee awarded it to Carrick who took advantage of the confusion with a quick tap, all the Perthshire players were offside, and he managed to find the try line.
The final minutes played out with some sterling defence by the tired Perthshire boys, before a turnover allowed Ryan Miller to send the ball to touch and claim the win at the final whistle.
Tomorrow’s (October 5) league game sees Hillhead Jordanhill travel to the North Inch. Kick-off 3pm.