Match Reports And Scores
1st XV – Ards 3 v 38 Banbridge
3rd XV – Ards 21 v 8 Banbridge
4th XV – No Game
U19s – No Game
U17s – Ards 7 v 29 Malone
2nd XV – Newry 26 v 6 Ards
ARDS TRAVELLED TO NEWRY WITH A VERY YOUNG SQUAD TO TAKE ON A STRONG WELL ORGANISED NEWRY TEAM. AFTER 40 MINS THE SCORE WAS 8-3 TO NEWRY BUT ARDS HAD BATTLED WELL AND WERE VERY MUCH STILL IN THE GAME. AT TIMES THEY HAD PRODUCED SOME EXCELLENT RUGBY AND HAD SHOWN THERE IS A LOT OF POTENTIAL TO LOOK FORWARD TO FOR THE REMAINDER OF THE SEASON. AFTER THE BREAK ARDS REDUCED THE SCORE TO 8-6 AND WERE WELL ON TOP. UNFORTUNATELY AT THIS TIME THE MORE EXPERIENCED NEWRY STARTED TO TAKE CONTROL OF THE GAME AND EVENTUALLY RAN OUT WINNERS BY A MARGIN WHICH WAS ROUGH JUSTICE FOR ARDS.
THE MANY YOUNG PLAYERS ON SHOW DID THEMSELVES NO HARM FOR THEIR FUTURE PROSPECTS AT ARDS WITH MANY ENCOURAGING PERFORMANCES. HOWEVER RUGBY IS ALL ABOUT BASICS AND DISCIPLINE AND PLAYERS NEED TO GET DOWN TRAINING TO GET THIS PART OF THEIR GAME SORTED OUT.
4th XV
The 4th XV were due to play Malone in the League last Saturday but were left high and dry when Malone pulled out of the fixture. Robin Johnston’s men must be wondering when their season is actually going to start, what with all the bad weather cancellations in December and opposition teams crying off, they’ve hardly kicked a ball in anger all season. Hopefully the Dee will oblige this week when they are due to make the short trip to Hamilton Park in the Quarterfinal of the McCambley Cup.
Piper Steps Down As 1st XV Team Manager
Michael Piper has had to relinquish his 1st XV Managerial duties due to
other commitments.
At this point in the season, it is not known whether anyone else will be
fully appointed in the role, or if others will be assisting with the
Management of the Senior squad as and when required.
Members will be notified of any further developments or appointments to the
management structure in due course.Ards 21 v 8 Banbridge
Ards 21 v 8 Banbridge
Good all round display gets the 3rds back to winning ways.
The unavailability of some senior players allowed Ards 3rds the opportunity
to give debuts to senior rugby to hooker Conran Stewart and scrum half Kyle
Agnew who played on the wing.
Conran has progressed through both the Mini and Youth sections at Ards;
whilst Kyle came through the Mini section and latterly Wellington College
under the guidance of former Ards player Peter ‘Cheesey’ Chambers.
Ards were keen to avenge the 10 – 7 defeat they suffered away to Banbridge
in the first game of this current season, having being knocked out of the
cup the previous week Ards were determined to get a victory.
Played in dry conditions but on an extremely soft pitch this game was always
going to be won up front. In the first half Ards played into the wind,
attacking the Scrabo Tower end of Hamilton Park. In the opening half hour no
quarter was given by either side and was dominated by strong driving forward
play with flanker Andrew Fletcher, No 8 Jordan Ellingham, second rows Ian
Presho and James Moore prominent.
After 32 minutes Banbridge scored the first points of the game when they
converted a penalty to 3 – 0 up, after Ards were penalised for being
off-side.
Unlike the previous week Ards responded well and debutant hooker Conran
Stewart scored a fine try after flanker Fletcher charged down a Banbridge
kick which out half JD Gamble gathered up and immediately ran at the
Banbridge defence evading several tackles before off loading to the
supporting Stewart to score a fine try to the left of the posts; scrum half
Graham Martin converted.
Half time: Ards 7 v Banbridge 3
The teams turned round at half time and with the wind on their backs Ards
controlled the game through out half Gamble, who hardly put a foot wrong all
day. Despite numerous try scoring opportunities for Ards it was Banbridge
who were first to score in the second half when their scrum half broke away
to score a fine solo try, the conversion was missed.
Again Ards responded well and debutant Kyle Agnew showed his talent, eye for
a break and pace when he seized upon a loose ball in his own 22 and opened
up the gas drawing the last man and then off loading to full back Brown who
stretched his legs to score a super try under the posts which was converted
by Martin.
In the final play of the game center Jay McKenzie made one of this customary
line breaks splitting the Banbridge defence to run in unopposed and score
under the posts which Martin again converted.
Final score: Ards 21 v Banbridge 8
Ards team: 1. G Paden, 2. C Stewart, 3. A Paden, 4. I Presho, 5. J Moore, 6.
A Fletcher, 7. R Mills, 8. J Ellingham, 9. G Martin, 10. J Gamble. 11. G
Dynes, 12. J McKenzie, 13. E Adair, 14. K Agnew, 15. G Brown.
This was a great win for the 3rds and a fine performance by all, but special
mention to the Under 19’s in the team of Conran Stewart, Jordan Ellingham
and Kyle Agnew who all played well and are surely 1st XV players in the
making.
This week Ards 3rds play Omagh at Hamilton Park in the league hoping to
avenge an away defeat earlier in the season.
Player/Coach Vacancy For Season 2011/12
Applications for a Head Player/Coach at Ards RFC for season 2011/12 are now being accepted.
Preferred applicants should hold a current IRFU Level 2 coaching certificate or equivalent, or be in the process of going through the Level 2 accreditation process.
Applicants should also be capable of coaching to the highest standard in the All Ireland League.
Applications in writing, along with a targeted CV, should be addressed to the Club Secretary, Mr. William Dickson, 1 Alexandra Road, Donaghadee, BT21 0QD or e-mail billydickson2003@yahoo.com
Closing date for receiving applications will be Friday April 1 2011.
Welcome Addition To Coaching Structure
Mervyn Tweed will be joining the coaching staff at Ards RFC for the remainder of the current season.
A former Ards player and Head Coach, Mervyn has considerable experience and expertise coaching in the AIL and is a welcome addition to the coaching staff.
Mervyn will be working alongside Laurence Kelly and Alan Benson in an ‘assistant’ capacity with Laurence remaining at the helm until the end of the season.
Good luck to all coaches and players for the remainder of the season.
Mini
The Ards Mini Rugby Tournament this season will take place on Sunday April 10 from 12 noon. Details on the Tournaments format are still being worked out and will be announced in the coming weeks. Any parent or guardian who would like to assist the Mini Committee in organising such a mammoth event or help out on the day would be very welcome and is asked to contact their respective coaches or forward their contact details on to the Mini Co-ordinator, Ian Caughey.
The Minis next set of friendly games are away to Instonians on Saturday March 5. Players should meet at Shaws Bridge, Belfast (Beside the Ramada Hotel) no later that 9.45am
Minis training on Sunday February 20 from 2pm.
Sympathy
The members and President of Ards RFC Reggie Haddock would like to express their sincere condolences to our esteemed friend and Club Secretary Billy Dickson, at the passing of his mother Ruth.
Social
The RBS 6 Nations Club Promotion during the Ireland v France game was well supported by Club members on Sunday. The next promotion will take place on Sunday February 27, during the Scotland v Ireland game.
.The Club bar will be open from 2.30pm to 5.30pm and pints can be purchased for only £2.50 per pint, but only on production of your 2010/11 Ards RFC membership card.
Club members not yet in possession of their membership cards, can call in at the Club during normal opening hours and speak with the Club steward Terry Atcheson or Big Eachey, who will be more than happy to furnish patrons with their cards.
The Annual Club Dinner will be held in the clubrooms at Hamilton Park on Wednesday March 16 from 7.30pm. Tickets cost £20 and places are limited so please book early to avoid disappointment. Please contact Teddy Sloan or Terry Atcheson for more information.
Tag Rugby
The Schools Tag Rugby Blitz for the Ards Borough has now been confirmed for Thursday March 17. Teams should arrive at Ards Rugby Club at approximately 10:00am to register, with the event itself kicking off at 10.45am. All Schools in the Ards Borough will be invited to enter a team and more details on the actual itinerary will be released soon.
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 clubs 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 February 19
Ards 1st XV v City of Derry – AIL (Away)
Ards 2nd XV v Malone – League (Away)
Ards 3rd XV v Omagh – League (Home)
Ards 4th XV v Donaghadee – McCambley Cup (Home)
Ards U19s v TBC
Ards U17s v TBC
All Saturday fixtures have a 2.30pm kick-off unless otherwise stated.
Please refer to the club website at www.ards-rfc.com for any late changes
