1st XV 31 match report – 03/11/12 v Connemara 13
Last Saturday Ards welcomed Connemara to Hamilton Park for a crucial All Ireland League battle. Whilst it is still relatively early days in the League campaign, before going into this game, both sides found themselves camped at the bottom of the League with no wins and Ards only having a slight advantage due to a better points difference. Over the years, the teams have locked horns on many occasions and have had some epic encounters. The importance of the outcome of the match was therefore not lost on either side, or to their supporters.
Ards won the toss and Connemara kicked off with the benefit of a strong breeze behind them, playing towards the Comber Road. The visitors started with confidence, with some impressive ball carries and their ability to recycle the ball from rucks brought them deep into the Ards half. Ards had difficulty in getting their hands on the ball and after just four minutes the Connemara out half, Sean Joyce converted a penalty to give them a 0 – 3 lead.
From the restart however, Ards took the game to the opposition. With a clear advantage in the scrums and aggressive play from the back row, Ards spend the next 15 minutes probing for a weakness in the visitors’ defence. However, the fighting spirit of Connemara was very much to the fore and it was not until the 20th minute that Ards made their first breakthrough. Mark Banford, playing at scrum half for the unavailable Kyle Agnew, cleverly anticipated a kick out of defence and charged down the attempted clearance. He sprinted through to win the touchdown for an opportunist’s try. Paul Cox calmly slotted over the conversion and Ards had a 7-3 lead. The home team continued to dominate possession for the remainder of the half, but without adding to their score. Then, the in 35th minute a back line move just outside the Connemara 22 metre line, broke down and the ball bounced kindly into the grateful hands of the Connemara out half Joyce. He proceeded to run the length of the pitch and score a breakaway try which he then converted to give his team a 7-10 lead at the interval.
The game was now in the balance and Ards knew they had to be patient and stick to their game plan to record a much needed victory. In the 45th minute Paul Cox converted a penalty to make it all square at 10-10. In the 53rd minute, Rob McCausland, who had another excellent all round game, used his considerable strength to score a try to the right of the posts and again, Cox added the conversion to give Ards a 17-10 lead. Connemara were quickly back into the game, when Joyce converted a penalty just three minutes later to leave Ards with a precarious 4 point lead. To their credit, they proceeded to dominate the remainder of the half both with possession and territory. Some excellent offloading in the tackle involving Foster, Minis and Young gave Michael Creighton some space to work in and he used all his skills to score an excellent try close to the posts in the 64th minute. With Cox adding the conversion Ards now had a 24-13 lead. Despite Graeme Taylor receiving a yellow card, the fourteen Ards players continued to exert pressure on the Connemara defence. A quick ball from a series of rucks put Neil Armstrong away on the right wing and he cleverly committed the Connemara full back before passing to the ever present Creighton, who stormed over and ran round close to the posts for a try, converted by Cox, to leave the final score at 31-13 in favour of Ards. The 4th try was of course, the crucial one, giving Ards a much needed 5 point win which lifts them a few places up the League table.
There is no match for Ards this week but on 17th November they are on the road again, this time to Sligo. The corresponding fixture last year resulted in a narrow win for Sligo at Hamilton Park and Ards will be hoping to reverse the outcome this time around.
The Ards Squad for the Connemara match was: Millar, Quinn, Wyle, McCausland, Dowie, Creighton, Broughall, Minis, Banford, Young, N Beggs, Taylor, Parkhill, Cox, J Beggs, Dodd, Foster, Graham, Armstrong, McIlwaine.
Last Saturday Ards welcomed Connemara to Hamilton Park for a crucial All Ireland League battle. Whilst it is still relatively early days in the League campaign, before going into this game, both sides found themselves camped at the bottom of the League with no wins and Ards only having a slight advantage due to a better points difference. Over the years, the teams have locked horns on many occasions and have had some epic encounters. The importance of the outcome of the match was therefore not lost on either side, or to their supporters.
Ards won the toss and Connemara kicked off with the benefit of a strong breeze behind them, playing towards the Comber Road. The visitors started with confidence, with some impressive ball carries and their ability to recycle the ball from rucks brought them deep into the Ards half. Ards had difficulty in getting their hands on the ball and after just four minutes the Connemara out half, Sean Joyce converted a penalty to give them a 0 – 3 lead.
From the restart however, Ards took the game to the opposition. With a clear advantage in the scrums and aggressive play from the back row, Ards spend the next 15 minutes probing for a weakness in the visitors’ defence. However, the fighting spirit of Connemara was very much to the fore and it was not until the 20th minute that Ards made their first breakthrough. Mark Banford, playing at scrum half for the unavailable Kyle Agnew, cleverly anticipated a kick out of defence and charged down the attempted clearance. He sprinted through to win the touchdown for an opportunist’s try. Paul Cox calmly slotted over the conversion and Ards had a 7-3 lead. The home team continued to dominate possession for the remainder of the half, but without adding to their score. Then, the in 35th minute a back line move just outside the Connemara 22 metre line, broke down and the ball bounced kindly into the grateful hands of the Connemara out half Joyce. He proceeded to run the length of the pitch and score a breakaway try which he then converted to give his team a 7-10 lead at the interval.
The game was now in the balance and Ards knew they had to be patient and stick to their game plan to record a much needed victory. In the 45th minute Paul Cox converted a penalty to make it all square at 10-10. In the 53rd minute, Rob McCausland, who had another excellent all round game, used his considerable strength to score a try to the right of the posts and again, Cox added the conversion to give Ards a 17-10 lead. Connemara were quickly back into the game, when Joyce converted a penalty just three minutes later to leave Ards with a precarious 4 point lead. To their credit, they proceeded to dominate the remainder of the half both with possession and territory. Some excellent offloading in the tackle involving Foster, Minis and Young gave Michael Creighton some space to work in and he used all his skills to score an excellent try close to the posts in the 64th minute. With Cox adding the conversion Ards now had a 24-13 lead. Despite Graeme Taylor receiving a yellow card, the fourteen Ards players continued to exert pressure on the Connemara defence. A quick ball from a series of rucks put Neil Armstrong away on the right wing and he cleverly committed the Connemara full back before passing to the ever present Creighton, who stormed over and ran round close to the posts for a try, converted by Cox, to leave the final score at 31-13 in favour of Ards. The 4th try was of course, the crucial one, giving Ards a much needed 5 point win which lifts them a few places up the League table.
There is no match for Ards this week but on 17th November they are on the road again, this time to Sligo. The corresponding fixture last year resulted in a narrow win for Sligo at Hamilton Park and Ards will be hoping to reverse the outcome this time around.
The Ards Squad for the Connemara match was: Millar, Quinn, Wyle, McCausland, Dowie, Creighton, Broughall, Minis, Banford, Young, N Beggs, Taylor, Parkhill, Cox, J Beggs, Dodd, Foster, Graham, Armstrong, McIlwaine.
Good win for Ards 2nds against Rainey! Ards 2nds 34- 13 Rainey 2nds
Ards entertained a good Rainey side at Hamilton Park on Saturday and produced an excellent performance to win 34-13.
Ards put intense pressure on the visitors defence in the early stages of the game with Captain Adam McKee coming closest to crossing the line with a trademark burst from the back of the scrum. In excellent conditions the home fullback Stephen Robinson kicked a penalty to open theArds 2nds 34- 13 Rainey 2nds
Ards entertained a good Rainey side at Hamilton Park on Saturday and produced an excellent performance to win 34-13.
Ards put intense pressure on the visitors defence in the early stages of the game with Captain Adam McKee coming closest to crossing the line with a trademark burst from the back of the scrum. In excellent conditions the home fullback Stephen Robinson kicked a penalty to open the scoring. Rainey suffered an early set back with the lost of their centre to injury. The Ards scrum laid the fountains for a solid attacking platform. Lead by the experience of Willie Dodds at tight head and nineteen year olds Conran Stewart at hooker and Matt Busby at loose head prop. Ards settled into their game plan after a prolonged period of pressure inside the Rainey 22 the ball was moved to centre Chris McClure who touched down to score an converted try. The visitors stepped up their game and were rewarded with a converted penalty and a well worked try to tie the score 10-10
Ards kept play in the visitors half and a period of 5mt scrums the ball broke for the returning Oren Kisby to burst though for a converted try. Rainey ended the half with a penalty to leave the score 17-13.
The Ards men produced a superb second half of rugby and upped the tempo to score 3 unanswered trys. Flanker Ryan Yates was alert to outpace the Rainey defence and score under the posts. The work rate of second rows Chris Dean and Johhy Dawson enable Charlie Stewart to get quick ball out wide to young winger Adam Coulter in his first season of senior rugby to finish off a sweeping move. From the restart Dawson secured high ball and off loaded to the supporting Conner McCullough, Stephen McKee came into the line at pace and created an overlap for Andy Todd to touch down in the corner. Some good periods of play followed by both sides but neither were able to increase their points total before the end of the game.
Team Stephen Robinson, Stephen McKee, Chris McClure, Oren Kisby,Adam Coulter, Andy Todd, Charlie Stewart, Adam McKee, Connor McCullough, Ryan Yates, Chris Dean,Johhy Dawson, Willie Dodds,Conran Stewart, Matt Stewart. scoring. Rainey suffered an early set back with the lost of their centre to injury. The Ards scrum laid the fountains for a solid attacking platform. Lead by the experience of Willie Dodds at tight head and nineteen year olds Conran Stewart at hooker and Matt Busby at loose head prop. Ards settled into their game plan after a prolonged period of pressure inside the Rainey 22 the ball was moved to centre Chris McClure who touched down to score an converted try. The visitors stepped up their game and were rewarded with a converted penalty and a well worked try to tie the score 10-10
Ards kept play in the visitors half and a period of 5mt scrums the ball broke for the returning Oren Kisby to burst though for a converted try. Rainey ended the half with a penalty to leave the score 17-13.
The Ards men produced a superb second half of rugby and upped the tempo to score 3 unanswered trys. Flanker Ryan Yates was alert to outpace the Rainey defence and score under the posts. The work rate of second rows Chris Dean and Johhy Dawson enable Charlie Stewart to get quick ball out wide to young winger Adam Coulter in his first season of senior rugby to finish off a sweeping move. From the restart Dawson secured high ball and off loaded to the supporting Conner McCullough, Stephen McKee came into the line at pace and created an overlap for Andy Todd to touch down in the corner. Some good periods of play followed by both sides but neither were able to increase their points total before the end of the game.
Team Stephen Robinson, Stephen McKee, Chris McClure, Oren Kisby,Adam Coulter, Andy Todd, Charlie Stewart, Adam McKee, Connor McCullough, Ryan Yates, Chris Dean,Johhy Dawson, Willie Dodds,Conran Stewart, Matt Stewart.
Hughes Insurance Celebrate 10 Years of Sponsorship of Ards RFC!!
Hughes Insurance, Northern Ireland’s largest independent insurance provider, has committed to sponsoring Ards Rugby Football Club for the 10th year in a row. Ards RFC, the home club of Ireland internationals including; Nigel Carr, Philip Matthews and Kenny Hooks, has been able to run four senior teams, a ladies team, a youth section and a large mini rugby section due to the continued support from Hughes Insurance.
Over the last 10 years Hughes Insurance has been vital to the running of the club. Mr Leslie Hughes, Chairman and founder of Hughes Insurance has used his influence to bring other sponsors on board and help generate funds for charities such as Marie Curie – including over £100,000 following the death of their coach Cois Beukes, sadly lost to cancer in 2010.
Robin Cole, President of IRFU Ulster Branch comments: “As an Ards man myself, I know how important the club is, it is more than rugby – it is where the community meets to take part in sport, socialise and support each other. It makes me proud to see a local company such as Hughes Insurance make a long-term commitment to the community, to sport and to rugby. Mr Hughes is a great rugby fan and his personal efforts to support the club have been second to none.”
The club is also recognised for its cross-community links such as those with Ballygalget and Ballycran GAC clubs – many players play rugby in season and hurling off season. The facilities are also open to other members of the community for various other sports and activities such as archery and dog shows.
Leslie Hughes, Chairman of Hughes Insurance comments: “We are proud to sponsor Ards RFC. The coaches, groundstaff and players give their time freely to the running of the club – so the least we can do is lend a hand. Supporting sport in the local community is very important to us, earlier this year we launched our Sports Volunteer Awards to seek out the unsung heroes of sport throughout Northern Ireland. The response from people nominating these volunteers was staggering and shows that local people feel the same way we do – local clubs, like Ards RFC, are vital to the community and the volunteers who run these clubs should be recognised.”
