Ian Presho’s 3rds; only senior winners on Saturday.
1st XV – Ards 8 v Rainey 27
2nd XV – no game
3rd XV – Ards 32 v Lurgan 13
4th XV – Ards 12 v Antrim 29
U19s – Ards 17 v Portadown 27
INJURIES PROVE COSTLY AGAINST RAINEY Ards 8 V 27 Rainey
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Last Saturday Rainey were the visitors at Hamilton Park for the second All Ireland League match of the season. Rainey had a fine run the previous season and were rarely out of the top four in the league. Having invested heavily in the close season in players such as former Ulster lock, Tim Barker, they are many peoples favourites for the league title this time around. Ards were therefore under no illusions of the task ahead of them, but as it transpired apart from the final ten minutes of an enthralling encounter were perhaps alittle unfortunate not to take some points out of the game.
Rainey kicked off, playing towards Scrabo, and into the breeze but had barely touched the ball when Ards scored a fine try after just two minutes. The forwards retained possession through several phases and a Scott Young surge took play into the opposition 22. The ball was recycled through two quick rucks to create an opening which was exploited by Jonny Beggs as he dived over to give Ards the perfect start. The conversion attempt was unsuccessful but Ards had a 5-0 lead, a lead they held until the 55th minute of the match.
In the 18th minute Scott Young was shown the yellow card and although Rainey pressed hard for a score during his absence, the Ards defence was robust to say the least and the team did not conceed a point during his absence. After 24 minutes Ards were awarded a penalty, some 40 metres out but Paul Cox judged his kick to perfection and the ball sailed through the uprights to extend the lead to 8-0. Ards then lost the agressive david calvert to a shoulder injury and this loss together with two further injuries early in the second half came back to haunt the home side as the match progressed. Ards continued to dominate posssesion however, with a rock solid scrum and the lineout functioning well. Rainey eventually got onto the score board in the 38th minute with a penalty to leave Ards 8-3 at the half time whistle.
Unfortunately Ards lost influential tight head prop Jonny Wylie to a hand injury which transpired to be a fracture and he was unable to resume in the second half. Just 5 minutes later Ards suffered a double blow when prop forward Jonny Millar, who was having a fine game, picked up a painful rib injury at a ruck. this meant the game went to uncontested scrums which did not suit the home side who had the upper hand in that key area of the game. The openess of the match from that point seemed to benefit Rainey and they scored a converted try after 55 minutes to take an 8-10 lead. just a few minutes later they extenced their lead to 5 points with a penalty. Ards stormed back with some excellent play from MICHAEL CREIGHTON, assisted by Quinn Weir and Dowey. When a penalty was awarded against Rainey at a ruck just inside their 22 metre line and to the right of the posts in the 62nd minute a decision was taken to opt for a scrum rather than a kick at the posts. This proved to be unfortunate as Ards were unable to score from the uncontested scrum and eventually the ball was turned over to allow Rainey to kick to the safety of the touch line. Then, in the 68th minute Ards were again on the attack and Rainey found themselves stretched and defending with everything they had as it seemed a try then could win the game. The opportunity was there as a great handling movement involving forwards and backs seemed to have worked a perfect try only for the ball to be knocked on 2 metres from the line. This error galvanised Rainey who scored a fine try of their own which was converted to make the score 8-20. With Ards now chasing the game Rainey scored another converted try in the dying moments, to leave them with a valuable win and the Ardsmen to think about a match that had slipped away from them.
The Ards squad was, Millar, Quinn, Wylie, Weir, Dowey, Calvert, Creighton, Graham, Agnew Banford, N. Beggs, Young, Parkhill, Coc, J. Beggs, Kelly, McCausland, Dawson, Minis, Taylor.
Suttonians 21 vs 12 Ards UBL
LOSS OF BONUS POINT COULD BE COSTLY
Last Saturday kicked off their All Ireland League programme with an away fixture in Dublin against Suttonians at the JJ McDowell Memorial Grounds. Suttonians won the toss and elected to play with the strong breeze at thair backs in the first half. They made full use of the elements by kicking long into Ards territory at every opportunity aided by a penaly count which also allowed them to kick to the corners. From one such penalty they kicked to within eight metres of the try line, and a catch and drive from the lineout saw their heavy pack rumble over for a try after 16 minutes. With the conversion added they had a 7-0 lead. Ards battled hard but turnovers and penalties in rucks prevented them getting any momentum. Suttonians stuck to a rigid game plan and extended their lead to 14-0 in the 24th minute from a rolling maul from 15 metres out. Ards lost right winger Neil Beggs in the 35th minute to a yellow card from what appeared to be a first offence and in his absence and on the blow of half time, the home side scored their third converted try to make it 21-0 at half time.
The secong half saw Ards chasing the game and dominating for long periods with the majority of possession. A fine sweeping back line move in the 48th minute gave left winger Nathan Burns an opening and he ran 20 metres to dive over for an unconverted try which raised the Ardsmen’s spirits. Ards missed a penalty a few minutes later , but with the pack now turning out good ball the backline were always a threat. A break from Kyle Agnew opened up the Suttonians defence and was carried on by Gareth Quinn and Darren Kelly. Scott Young then came onto the ball at pace and his angle of running took him towards the try line. Just as it seemed he would be caught, he reverse passed inside to find MICHAEL CREIGHTON up in support. The powerful backrower stormed over and scored just to the right of the posts. Paul Cox added the conversion and with 18 minutes left and the deficet cut to 9 points, Ards were in the ascendancy The referree’s decision to sin bin Andrew Foster soon after the restart, made life difficult, but Ards remained on the front foot and only desperate defence kept them at bay. With 5 minutes remaining, Suttonians were penalised in a ruck 25 metres out and 20 metres in from the left touch line. Up stepped Paul Cox to take the vital penalty knowing a succesful strike would earn Ards at least a bonus point. He struck the ball cleanly and both touch judges put their flags up. The scoreboard showed 3 points to Ards and the delighted players made their way back to the half way line for the restart only to realise the Referree had over ruled the touch judges and awarded a drop out to the home side. Even the Suttonians players and fans were bemused by this bizzare decision. Ards pushed hard for another score in the dying moments but to no avail and were left to try and make some sense of a decision that cost them a bonus point and possibly the momentum to go on and win the game. This Saturday, Ards welcome Rainey to Hamilton Park for their second AIL match. The Ards squad for the Suttonians game was;
Weir, Graham Wylie. McCausland, Dowey. Creighton, Broughall, Kelly, Agnew, Banford, Burns, Young, Parkhill, Beggs, Cox, Foster, Quinn, Dawson, Calvert, Taylor.
Match report – P6 v Hollywood 06/10/12 Good form continues!!!
Ards P6’s played their 2nd game of the season on Saturday when they travelled to Kerr Park to take on the Hollywood counterparts.
Again with a Saturday kick off several players were unavailable and the P6’s had a squad of 10 good men!!
Unavailable were Louis Blackstock, Eddie Hawkins, Adam Matchett, Andy White and Kyle Simpson.
This Saturday the team played 5 mini games against Hollywood.
In the opening 4 games Ards showed how good a team they are becoming demonstrating some great support play and off loads and the ability to hold their structure.
In the backs Conor Law and Luke Graham were strong in the tackle; Cameron Uprichard was tenacious at scrum half,Chris Moore showed that if you give him a gap he’ll score and new player Joshua Cowan scored his 1st try.
The forwards worked well together and Jack Woods, Jack McGimpsey, Kristen McNiece, Matt Drysdale and Carson Waycott showed their strength in rucks and mauls with some great drives.
Tries were scored by Cameron Uprichard (2), Joshua Cowan (1), Conor Law (4), Jack Woods (2), Chris Moore (3), Luke Graham (1), Kristen McNiece (1).
In hindsight the 5th game was probably an ask too much for the boys; but they were enjoying themselves so much that it seemed a shame not play another game. Hollywood proved to be the stronger team in the last game as they were able to utilise their greater squad numbers.
Coaches Alan, Roy and Stevie continue to be pleased with the teams development; but are only too well aware that we need to work on some other aspects of our game.
P6 squad – Jack Woods, Jack McGimpsey, Matt Drysdale, Cameron Uprichard, Chris Moore, Carson Waycott, Luke Graham, Kristen McNiece, Conor Law, Joshua Cowan
HALLOWEEN FANCY DRESS PARTY
Put your mask on and come along to the Halloween Fancy Dress Party on Saturday 27th October from 8pm!!!
If you are a member, player, supporter or sponsor of Ards Rugby or even a parent of a player in the minis, youth or seniors you are welcome and encouraged to attend the Halloween Fancy Dress Party.
For those attending Fancy Dress there will be a reduced price of entry and you will have the chance to win some great prizes including a meal voucher.
Why not get all dressed up and have a FANGtastic night!!!
