Larne RFC welcomed near neighbours Carrick RFC U18 side to the Glynn for an U18 friendly match on Saturday morning.

In an entertaining 3 x 20 minute match Carrick game out on top 12 – 21 with the visitors showing a clinical edge to score in every visit into the Larne 22.

Carrick were the quickest out of the blocks, taking full advantage of Larne indiscipline to set up a 5m lineout minutes into the first third. The ball was move wide for centre Sam Daniels to battle over for the opening score. Nick Gannon added the extras to give Carrick a 0 – 7 lead.

Things got worse for the home side, six minutes later, when a mix up on the wing saw Carrick’s Tom Kennedy power to the posts for their second score. Gannon again converted and Larne were 0 – 14 down with just under 10 minutes played.

Larne got on top for the remainder of the third and, after a couple of attempts, captain Luke Burns followed up on a break from Larne’s centre to collect and cross out wide for an unconverted try, taking the score to 5 – 12 at the first break.

Larne enjoyed the bulk of play in the second period but they struggled to finish off their chances. They eventually got their reward following a powerful break down the right from Theo Slaughter, his score converted by the scrum half Robin Wynn to take the score to 12 – 14 as the teams went into the final third.

The home side looked to be getting on top at the start of the final period but a try saving tackle from Carrick’s Daniels seemed to be the turning point and the visitors worked their way into the Larne red zone for prop Liam Green to bust a couple of tackles for a spectacular dive for the line. Gannon completed the scoring, with the conversion, to give Carrick a 12 – 21 win.

Gallery Below