Shock horror in the ranks, as tour court officals bump up charges. But young Ards men do the business on the pitch to put smiles on everyone’s face
The entire tour party took a well earned lie in after celebrating well into the wee hours. However it wasn’t long before bleary eyed faces headed to indulge in either a refreshing swim or an energy boosting fry up, braving a horizontal blizzard on their way.
Very shortly, rumours started to emerge of a variety of misdemeanours through the night and the Honourable Members of the Court had their appetites well whetted for the presentation of charges that evening.
After a hearty lunch, the tourists headed for Irvine RFC for their next match. Irvine were fielding an U16 side of some repute and not inconsiderable size and upon inspecting their opponents warming up, the Ards boys knew they would have to step up.
Playing with the wind in the first half, Ards conceded an early try to the large Irvine pack after a series of driven penalties and their intent was obvious from the start to use this method. However, the Ards team decided from this point on to take on their larger opponents and take the game to them.
The forwards and backs combined in the playing style that has become their trademark, hard 1st phase, dynamism at the breakdown and a hard running hard defending direct backline.
To Irvine’s surprise the Ards Big Eight Scrum sent them backwards the maximum distance in every engagement as have all challengers to this technically astute and powerful unit.
Using this, the superbly marshalled backline ran the ball hard and kicked for territory to set themselves in the Red Zone. Scores quickly followed as a result from Cameron McKee and Paddy Clarke and with both converted by Joel DePledge, Ards went into the break 14-12 up as a blizzard of Antarctic proportions began to blow.
Re-entering the fray, Irvine took another early try through crash ball by their big ball carriers to take a 19-14 lead, but it was to be their last score. As the young Ardsmen circled during the Irvine conversion, they committed to put their bodies on the line and their leaders demanded the last 25 minutes of their season to be a time they would remember for many years to come.
The resultant performance they delivered exceeded this promise as they produced a display that will live in their memories. Two tries scored and converted by Joel DePledge were the end results of a team display observed with immense pride by the coaching team and disbelief by the hosts.
After presentations, the difficult task of picking the Player Of The Tour Award ended in the trophy going to Joel DePledge, although the exploits of Paddy Clarke and Cameron McKee amongst others made this such a hard call to make.
Returning to Sundrum, Court was convened after a welcome supper and the Sheriff and Procurator Fiscal heard charges presented of a nature that shocked even their hardened ears and a variety of stiff sentences were handed down to the guilty parties.
After such exertions over the last 2 days, the Tourists found their slumbers easily and dozed off at a more reasonable hour with dreams of a visit to MandD’s the next day.
