The Iron Maidens will be in action again next Sunday, 12th February, as they face Letterkenny in the Cup Final.
A venue has not been confirmed by the Branch yet for this final, but it is likely to be at Rainey Old Boys in Magherafelt.
Please watch the Ards RFC Website for confirmation CLICK HERE
Ards 17 vs 7 Banbridge
Ards get revenge on a muddy cold rainy day
It was cold and very wet at Hamilton Park as the home side took to the pitch, the early afternoons heavy rain had really softened the ground making it very heavy under foot.
From the off it was clear that it was going to be a match mistakes and fumbles due to the weather. It was Ards making the ground in the opening encounters, moving well with forwards and backs linking well even in the bad conditions. The visitor seemed to be still on the bus as Ards put together a slick move that saw the ball spun out wide to Adam Coulter who sprinted for the line to be tackled yet not held back on his feet with a dive and slide in the wet grass to go over the line, only to be brought back for a double movement?? Ards took it on the chin and moved on. The home side countered at every chance through the pack with Captain Matthew Duffy leading the way followed by fellow back rowers Chris Dean and jack coulter.
During the middle of the first half Fly half Nathan Burns went over with a well worked move, then the forwards ground out a score for prop Chris Thompson.
That made the half time score 17 – 0 to the home side.
The second half started with an error from Ards with the ball not going 10 the uncontested scrum gave Banbridge a great platform to attack and this carried in for most of the half attack after attack led to their try between the posts and the 2 extra points. Ards had seemed to go to sleep and the amount of penalties was mounting up. Banbridge had several attempts thwarted and one held up over the line. jack coulter and Matthew Hunter were putting in some crunching tackles and never taking a step back facing up to the opposition at every breakdown. Peter Jess the new boy on the block at centre was tackling like a wild man and stopping the visitors in their tracks, and Connor Kerr playing in the 2nd row drove at the opposition every time. Yet it took the side step of Nathan Burns to relieve the pressure time and time again.
With the full time whistle going Ards took a sigh of relief as Banbridge were finding their form, another good win for Ards.
Final score 17-7
