Match Reports And Scores
1st XV – Barnhall 36 v 3 Ards
2nd XV – Donegal 21 v 13 Ards
3rd XV v Coleraine – Postponed
4th XV v Bangor – Postponed
U19s – No Game
U17s – No game
U15s – No Game
U13s – No Game
Minis v CIYMS Tournament
Senior
The 1st XV had a bit of a topsy tervy start to their day away to Barnhall which didn’t help with mental preparations before losing influential centre Scott Young to a quad injury in the warm up. The loss of Young was further compounded when Taylor Ferguson had to retire after only 8 minutes in the first half with a knee injury.
Nevertheless, Ards settled as best they could and tried to make a game of it before John Mawhinney was forced to leave the playing arena with a head injury.
Despite losing three key players in such a fashion, Ards battled on against the odds and held their own for much of the game against a more clinical Barnhall.
In the end, a Jonny McLachlan penalty was all they had to show for their troubles as Barnhall racked up their 36 points.
A disappointing outcome considering Ards appeared to have rediscovered their form over the last five weeks.
Sundays Well will grace the turf at Hamilton Park next week in the last home AIL game of the season. Hopefully that should give the Ardsmen just enough time to lick their wounds and regroup for their remaining two games.
The 2nds headed off to the wilds of Donegal with a weakened squad due to the unavailability of a number of players, and while they may have come off second best, still managed to produce a reasonable performance.
A Gareth McBurney try, converted by Richard Aston who also landed a brace of penalties helped to finish off the day with a respectable result of 21 – 13 to the hosts.
Next week they face Ophir at Hamilton Park and hopefully some of their absentees will be more readily available this time round.
Both the 3rds and 4ths games were called off at the weekend and it is hoped that both these games can be rearranged in the near future.
The 3rds are down to play Rainey away next week, though this has yet to be confirmed and the 4s look forward to their trip to Belmont Park, where they could do with getting some game time under their belts against CI before their McCambley Cup final clash with County Antrim rivals Ballymena, at Ravenhill the following week.
Mini
The Tournament season is now upon us and the Mini section played in a well run Tournament over at Belmont Park in East Belfast over the weekend.
The U8s squad of Adam Matchett, Jack McGimpsey, Chris Moore, Andy Kenmore, Rhys Barratt, Mori McIlroy, Andy Rankin, Carson Waycott, Nathan Shultzer and Ross Waide,
played Donaghadee, CIYMS and Bangor in their group and performed admirably throughout.
Well done to all the players and thanks to CI for hosting the event.
The Minis next Tournament is away to Cooke at Shaws Bridge for the U9, 10, 11, and 12s age group only on Saturday April 9. The U7 and 8s are likely to arranged at a later date.
The Minis will be training on Sunday April 3 as normal, 2 – 3.30pm
New Zealand RWC 2011
In the build up to the RWC in New Zealand this year, Ireland will have a couple of warm up games at the Aviva Stadium in Dublin against France on August 20 and England on August 27.Read on
Application forms for tickets from the IRFU must be returned to Ards RFC no later than Friday April 9.
Tickets cost €40, €30 and €20 for category 1, 2 and 3 seating respectively, with all moneys for successful applicants being paid to Ards RFC no later than Wednesday June 1st 2011.
For more information, please contact Tom McCullough.
Tag Rugby
Tag Rugby (non-contact) is for both boys and girls and can be played both indoors and out. Anyone who would like this great activity delivered to their school or club should contact Emma Hingston, the Sports Development Officer at Ards Borough Council on 02891 824000 or e-mail emma.hingston@ards-council.gov.uk to book their place.
Fixtures – Saturday April 2
Ards 1st XV v Sundays Well – AIL (Home)
Ards 2nd XV v Ophir – league (Home)
Ards 3rd XV v Rainey – League (Away) – TBC
Ards 4th XV v CIYMS – League (Away)
Ards U19s v TBC
Ards U17s v Larne – Plate Q/F (Away) kick-off 11am
Ards U15s v TBC
Ards U13s v TBC
All Saturday fixtures have a 2.30pm kickoff unless otherwise stated.
Please refer to the club website at www.ards-rfc.com for any late changes
Many thanks and kind regards
Roy Lawton
Ards RFC PRO
