Welcome Message From The President
It is an honour and a privilege to be this seasons President of Ards RFC and on behalf of the Executive Committee, I would like to extend a warm welcome to all our Club sponsors, players, members, family, friends and supporters for the new 2011/12 season.
Presently we are in the midst of a number of major challenges, not least the current austerity measures putting pressure on our tightly run finances, and we deeply appreciate the support from our sponsors, without whom this club could not exist in its current form.
This season sees four new teams enter into the newly structured All Ireland League format of the Ulster Bank League Division 2B, with Armagh, Boyne (Drogheda), Cashel (Cork) and Sligo, all now joining the senior ranks of the IRFU.
To our players and coaching staff, success does not come without extremely hard work, sacrifice and determination both on and off the pitch and to fulfill our objectives, everyone must pull together to ensure that these objectives become achievable.
At Ards, we cater for rugby at all levels, from our youngest members in the Minis right the way up through our Youth, Ladies and four Senior sides, with the 1st XV, setting the benchmark for our Club. The care and attention dedicated to teaching our Mini players on a Sunday afternoon is a credit to parents and coaches alike, and the contribution our Club makes to the local community is often overlooked. Our coaches take great pride in producing players who will play good rugby, but greater support must be given by the IRFU. Our Union must provide more money to enable us to develop our young players and in particular to make it possible for us to compete against Clubs from other provinces on a level playing field.
We have pride in our reputation for being one of the friendliest clubs in Ireland. Ards RFC has always been a family Club and I would like to extend a warm welcome to one and all who visit Hamilton Park this season, be it on a match day or not. We want and need your support to keep this club at the forefront of local rugby for generations to come.
And finally, good luck to all our teams this season let’s make it a great season to remember.
Gary Presho
President Ards RFC
Match Reports And Scores
Senior
1st XV 12 v 20 Lisburn (Friendly) CLICK HERE FOR PICTURES
Ards 1st XV 12 V 20 Lisburn 1st XV
A youthful and rather inexperienced 1st XV welcomed Lisburn to Hamilton Park
last Saturday for a pre –season friendly
Lisburn,having already played a match against Dromore, were the more
organised and forceful side and deserved their 20 point lead at half time.
After a raft of replacements were made at the interval, the young Ardsmen
were the better side in the second period with Darren Kelly and Adam Lowry
scoring tries one of which was converted by Mark Banford. Ards had a
disallowed try from Jonny Dawson and on two occasions the Ref blew for a
forward pass when Stephen Cole and Neil Armstrong had been put through.
This was a useful exercise for the 1st XV and allowed Coach Mervyn Tweed to
assess a number of young players who have come up through the Clubs’
successful youth system.
This Saturday the 1sts are away to Armagh for an Ulster Senior League match
with the game kicking off at 2.30pm.
Ards Select 26 v 24 Grosvenor Select (Friendly) CLICK HERE FOR PICTURES
The 2011-12 rugby season got under way at Hamilton Park on Friday evening when an Ards 2nds/3rds Select played a Grosvenor select.
This was a chance for senior coaches Mervyn Tweed, Scott Young, Lawrence Kelly, Neil McMillan and team managers Robin Johnston, Gareth Paden and Ricky Coates to run their eye over a number of players and get pre match routines finalised.
A total of 27 Ards players got game time; the game was played over 3 x 20 minute periods and proved to be a good work out for next week’s 1sts and 2nds games away to Armagh in the Ulster League; the 3rds season starts the following week at home to Ballymena.
Grosvenor kicked off the 1st period playing towards Scrabo Tower; almost immediately Ards put themselves under pressure by conceding turnover ball whilst attempting to offload in the tackle.
Grosvenor seized on this mistake and after some good recycling scored a converted try close to the Ards posts.
From the resulting kick off Ards were awarded a scrum just outside the Grosvenor 22; the front row of Ashley Paden, captain David Chivers and Michael McMenamin gave a solid platform allowing the backline to execute a training ground move with centre Stephen Cole splitting the Grosvenor defence to score well under the posts; out half Paul Cox converted.
The next 10 minutes were keenly contested but Ards conceded too many penalties at the breakdown. However; the next score went to Ards when out half Cox took a quick penalty from just inside the Grosvenor half and ran in to score under the posts leaving several would be tacklers in his wake; Cox converted.
The final passage of play in this period saw Cox put up a great Garryowen which winger Roger Scott contested causing the Grosvenor defence to knock on; advantage was played and it was Cox who was at hand to snap up the loose ball and show good strength to break through the would be tackler to again run in and score his 2nd try which he again converted.
Ards 21 – Grosvenor 7
Ards made wholesale changes at the start of the 2nd period with John Mawhinney, Ryan Mills, Daniel McNally, Stephen Robinson, Oren Kisby and Ricky Aston all entering the fray.
It was Grosvenor who kept their shape and who scored first in this period when their flank forward went over for try which was converted.
Scrum half McKee barged his way over for a try converted by Aston at the end of this period.
Ards 23 – Grosvenor 14
Ards were more determined to give all players a run out and the 3rd period saw Ricky Coates, Chris Webster, Simon Irvine and Paul Finlay get game time. An injury saw Andy Shaw leave the pitch and Neil Armstrong return. The 3rd period prove to be Grosvenor’s, who scored a converted try by their winger after a lapse of concentration by the Ards defence.
The last score of the game was a try by Grosvenor.
Ards where keen to play a 4th period to give players more game time, but this was not to be the case.
Thanks are extended to Grosvenor in playing the game and good luck to their club in the forthcoming season.
It was hearting to see visiting players to stay behind, have a beer, a burger and enjoy the camaraderie of the hosts.
Ards Squad:
M.McMenamin, D.Chivers (Capt.), A.Paden, I.Presho, P.Croan, D.Calvert, M.Robinson, N.Cahoon, P.Thompson, P.Cox, R.Scott, A.Shaw, S.Cole, N.Armstrong, M.McClean, I.McCarrison, R.Mills, R.Coates, J.Mawhinney, P.Finlay, S.McKee, S.Robinson, D.McNally, C.Webster, O.Kisby, R.Aston, S.Irvine.
Subscriptions
Subs can be paid through a variety of ways and Steven Eachus will be on hand on Wednesday evenings to ‘assist’ those players and others who require a helping hand in choosing the best option that best suits their pocket.
Also, playing subs must be paid by the 1st November 2011, otherwise those players who have not fulfilled their obligation may face various sanctions.
It costs money to run even amateur Clubs and get teams out on a Saturday, so please do your bit and pay your subs on time.
Membership Application forms with Subs information and Direct Debit forms are available to download on the Ards Rugby website at www.ards-rfc-com Click on ‘Club Info’ and go to Documents to view.
For More information, please contact Steven Eachus on 07514 434289.
Clubhouse Opening Hours
With immediate effect, the new opening hours will be as follows:-
Monday and Wednesday 19:00 – 23:00 hrs (as required)
Friday 16:00 – 23:00 hrs
Saturday 12:00 – 23:00 hrs
Sunday 13:00 – 18:00 hrs
Functions and those that require late licenses etc can still be booked as normal through the Club Steward Terry Atcheson.
For more details please contact Steven Eachus.
Pre-match Luncheons And Sponsors
Neil workman will be the main coordinator for this season’s pre-match luncheons and sponsors. Neil requests that everyone lends a hand to help fill the clubhouse at these luncheons on match days and also encourage as much inward investment as possible.
For more information please contact Neil on 07767 846282
Poker Night
A Poker Night has been arranged for Saturday August 27 at 7.30pm. There will also be other Poker Nights on the last Saturday of each month throughout the season. To boo your place at the table, please contact Steven Eachus, Gareth Paeden or Terry Atcheson
40th Anniversary At Hamilton Park
It’s been 40 years since Ards played their first home game at Hamilton Park and on September 10 at 7pm, the Club will be hosting a special anniversary event to commemorate this momentous occasion, including a free BBQ.
As part of the celebrations, an invitation is extended to all past and present players/members to come along to this event for a night of banter, craic and reminisce about ‘the good old days’
For more information, please contact Steven Eachus or Terry Atcheson
Ards Away To The Dogs
A trip to the Drumbo Dogs Track, has been arranged for Friday November 18. A coach will leave Ards at 6pm sharp, for this event.
Tickets cost £45 each and includes transport and a Gala 3 course dinner at the Stadium overlooking the track.
These are very enjoyable events and those wishing to attend, should book their place with either Steven Eachus or Neil Workman asap to avoid disappointment.
Please view the events section for more great entertainment coming your way over the season.
Ladies
The Ladies section has been busy in the closed season with Ian Caughey, Tim McCandless, Richard and Simon Hamilton all onboard as the new coaching team, putting the girls through their pre-season paces in readiness for the new season and their inclusion in a development league.
A further boost for the girls was also on the cards last Sunday when Dani Boyd, was included in an Ulster Development squad, picked to play against a Leinster Development squad at Banbridge RFC.
Dani impressed so much in the first game, that she was then invited to play a half in a second game featuring more experienced players at the same venue. Not bad for a ‘girl’ who only played her first ‘real’ game rugby at the end of last season when she scored Ards Ladies first ever try in a competitive game at Hamilton Park.
Everyone at the Club is delighted at this very welcome news and extend their hearty congratulations to Dani on her debut.
The Ladies train on Wednesday evenings from 7 – 8:30pm and would welcome all new recruits.
For more information please contact Ian Caughey or Tim McCandless.
Youth
Ards Youth pre-season training has been going well with good numbers now starting to show at each session.
The Youth train on Tuesday and Thursday evenings from 7pm – 8.30pm and would like to extend a welcome to all old and new players to come along and prepare for the incoming season.
The Youth early season fixtures for the U15s and 17s are now up on the website with the U19s and 13s to follow.
The U19s have already had a taste of what’s to come with a pre-season Blitz at Randalstown last Saturday.
Application forms and fixtures can be downloaded from the Ards Rugby website at www.ards-rfc.com
For more information about playing Youth rugby at Ards please contact the Youth coordinator Dayle Jones.
Mini
The Minis return to training on Sunday September 4 from 2 – 3.30pm and all players (old and new) will be very welcome to come along and get ready for the new season. Mini rugby is open to both boys and girls and this season sees a return to the old format of teams comprising of school classes i.e. P5s all together as a team as opposed to dates of birth qualifying which team they play in. Mini application forms and fixtures for the new season can be downloaded from the Ards Rugby website at www.ards-rfc.com and click on the links on the Club info page.
For more information please contact Ards Mini Rugby Coordinator Ian Caughey
Ards Rugby Photos
Bill Haggan has taken many excellent photos of Ards players in action at Hamilton Park over the years and will be continuing to do the same this season. To view and download photos free of charge from Bills gallery please log on to http://billhaggan.smugmug.com/Sports/Rugby or click on the links via the Club website and Club info page.
Tag Rugby
Tag Rugby (non-contact) is a fun way of learning new skills in a safe and enjoyable environment and is open to both boys and girls, and can be played both indoors and out by everyone, regardless of previous experience or ability. 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 September 27
Ards 1st XV v Armagh– UCL (Away)
Ards 2nd XV v Armagh – League (Away) Kick-off 1pm
Ards 3rd XV v TBC
Ards 4th XV v TBC
Ards U19s v TBC
Ards U17s v TBC
Ards U15s v TBC
Ards U13s v TBC
All Saturday fixtures have a 2.30pm kick-off time unless otherwise stated.
Please refer to the club website at www.ards-rfc.com for any late changes
