New Sponsors
The president and exec committee at the club would like to welcome the Stove Yard on board this season as one of our sponsors.
The Stove yard who are one of the largest distributors of stoves across Ireland are a locally based company who operate out of Kiltonga industrial estate Newtownards.
Power NI have also come on board this month as Under 19s Kit Sponsor.
The club look forward to having a long friendship with both companies.
More information on all club sponsors is available at http://www.pitchero.com/clubs/ards/ Anyone who may be interested in providing sponsorship should contact Neil Workman.
Ards 3 V 29 Barnhall
INJURIES AND ERRORS COST POINTS
Dublin side Barnhall were the visitors to Hamilton Park last Saturday for another AIL 2B league match. The game was played in dry conditions and despite the heavy rain earlier in the week, the pitch was in very good condition. With a strong wind blowing directly across the pitch towards the Clubhouse, neither side had any advantage as far as the elements were concerned. Ards got into their stride quickly from the whistle, playing with aggression and retaining possession through several phases. Barnhall were forced to in fringe at a ruck, after 5 minutes, but the resulting penalty opportunity just shaded the right hand post. Undeterred Ards kept the visitors encamped in their own half and when Paul Cox was presented with a similar penalty in the 12 minute he dispatched it confidently to give Ards a 3-0 lead.
Barnhall were finding it difficult to get any decent possession as the Ards pack working as a unit were winning the battle at the breakdown and were solid in the scrums, with the honours even in the lineouts. Ards began to move the ball along their backline seeking a breakthrough but the visitors defence was strong and unshaken. In the 24th minute Ards were driving forward but came unstuck inside the Barnhall 10 metre line when a turnover saw the ball moved quickly through the hands creating an overlap for the left winger to score a try close to the corner flag. The conversion went astray, but Barnhall now had the lead at 5-3. The remainder of the half was evenly contested. David Calvert was the pick of the Ards pack with another all action display and young Max Harrison was not far behind with his robust approach at the breakdown. It appeared there would be no more scoring in the first period but on the blow of half time Barnhall were awarded a long range penalty which they converted to tale a 5 point lead into the second half.
As the scoreline suggests there was not much between the teams in that first half and Ards were looking to push on to gain a much needed win. Unfortunately the injury problems which have hit Ards hard this season came to the fore again in the first quarter of the second half. Jonny Wylie who had been dominating the scrums, had a reoccurrence of his ankle injury and he was quickly followed to the bench by Steven Minis and captain Scott Young. Kyle Agnew, who made a very competent AIL debut at scrum half also sustained a nasty ankle injury, which forced his early exit in the 63 minute. These changes did cause some disruption but that was not the sole cause of the demise in the final quarter. Unforced errors crept in with a number of knock ons handing territorial advantage to Barnhall who were content to use this impetus to gain the upper hand. Three converted tries were the result of the pressure they were able to exert which took the game away from Ards and perhaps gave the score line a slightly flattering edge as the game drew to a close. The young Ards side will, however, learn from this game that the team that makes the least errors in tight contests usually come away with the points. The Ards squad was; Weir, Piper, Wylie, Dowey, McCavery, Calvert, Minis, Harrison, Agnew, Cox, Hassard. Young, Beggs, Wilson, Taylor, Foster, Busby, Dawson, Todd, McClean.
This Saturday the 1st XV are on their travels again when they play Sundays Well in Cork.
3rd XV
Ards 3rds travelled to Portadown last weekend, keen to build on the previous week’s success. It was the Ards men who got off to the brighter start putting pressure on the home team from the kick off. This paid off when the Ards backs worked a good move that saw McKee touch down in the corner for the first points of the game. Unfortunately some poor defending allowed Portadown to score two relatively soft converted tries. This was a point where the young Ards men could have let heads drop but they battled to half time and forced a penalty which Robinson converted leaving the score at 14-8 at the turn around.
CLICK HERE FOR III XV PICTURES V CLOGHER VALLEY
In the second half Ards showed great resolve and patience, taking the game to Portadown and defending with much more composure and aggression. Throughout the match the Ards pack had the better of their opposition with the scrums functioning well and Dean and Hunter dominating in the lineouts. The result of this was good ball for the back line giving McKee the chance to slip through for his second try which was converted by Robinson. Further pressure by the pack resulted in yet another penalty for infringements at the ruck by Portadown which was calmly slotted over by Robinson. A matter of minutes later the Portadown captain was sin binned for an almost identical offence, Ards used this advantage to press forward again and Mills battled over for a try near the posts which Robinson converted.
The match finished 14-25 to Ards who had dug deep for this well deserved victory.
Team list: J.Millar, D.Chivers, A.Peden, I.Presho, M.Hunter, C.Dean, R.Coates, W.McCutcheon, L.McCartney, C.Webster, P.Devlin, S.Robinson, R.Mills, A.Wright, S.McKee.
Iron Maidens
Ards Ladies started of the season well against a very experienced Quins side on Sunday. The ladies did not falter and quickly put Quins on the back foot when Alex Mcarthy making it over the line only to have the try disallowed as it was claimed the ball had went past the dead ball line. It was not long however until Ards player Orlaith Dynes rewarded her fellow players with a try which was later converted by Dani Boyd. A further two trys were made by the ladies and disallowed as it was viewed the ball had been held up. The ladies did secure a final try however it was not enough with the final score Quins 32 Ards 12 a score which did not reflect the days match. Ards were rewarded with the 5pts however as Quins forfeited the game as they had played the match with many All Ireland League players who should not have been playing in the development league. A great start to the season against a well seasoned side . The ladies are back in action this Sunday against Malone in what should be an interesting and entertaining match.
Under 19s – A close match in the heavy pitches at Regent.
Ards U19s took on a very good Lurgan under 19s side at the regent house pitches Comber Road.
CLICK HERE FOR U19 XV PICTURES v Portadown
Lurgan’s big pack set their stall out from the off with good driving mauls and rucks that crossed the gain line time after time, it was only some great tackles from the Ards defence that stopped the visitors going over.
The play was in the home teams half for most of the first 15 minutes and they were put under the cosh time after time but the defence held firm, and it was in the 16th minute that Ards let loose their backs for the first time that saw Luke Kenmore go over for a try.
Not to be out done the Lurgan side came back with a vengeance scoring in the 18th and the 34th minute both tries from their backs numbers 14 and 13.
Half time score Ards 5 Lurgan 10.
The start of the second half saw Ards change up a gear and with 10 minutes gone Ryan Keltia went over for a try. With the kicker having a bad day because of the wind the score was now 10-10 and all to play for.
Both teams new that either could win and the play was fast and furious this saw mistakes by the home side and the Lurgan number 5 going over for a try.
With only 12 minutes left the Lurgan side must have thought the game was theirs but the never say die attitude of the Ards side kicked in. Players like jack Coulter, jack Mackenzie, Chris Thompson, Adam Barlow, and Danny Kerr stood up to the job in hand. The forwards took the game to the visitors and turned defence into attack which allowed the backs to run free giving good field position for James Campbell to go over for a try that was well worked between backs and forwards.
A draw looked to be on the cards for these well matched teams but Ards were not going to accept that, and from the restart they came back at Lurgan as if it was the start of the match. The forwards worked well in the rucks and the open giving space to the backs who saw Adam Barlow go over in the 79th minute of the match, the conversion attempt was missed and the ref blew for full time.
Final score Ards 20 Lurgan 15
Movember
November will be renamed Movember this year and help raise awareness in relation to men’s health issues.
Movember is an event that runs through the month of November to raise money and awareness in relation to men’s health issues such as prostate and testicular cancer.
To help get Ards and running, a number of players at the Club will be ‘attempting’ to grow moustaches throughout the month in support of this worthy cause. People can donate to the charity online through the Movember website at uk.movember.com
A team has been registered for the Club under the name, Ards RFC and this way people can donate on behalf of the Club.
Please support this noble charity event.
Up Coming Events at Ards RFC
Sat 12th November – 8:00pm
St Trinians Disco
Sat 19th November – 6:00pm
This event has had to be moved from the Friday night due to Drumbo Park having made a mistake with the booking. If this causes anyone a problem please contact Neil Workman.
Ards RFC’s major fundraiser for 2011 will be a trip to the Drumbo Dogs Track, on
Please see the club Web Site for more information. http://www.pitchero.com/clubs/ards/
Fri 25th November – 12:30pm
FARLS luncheon at Ards Club House
Please Contact Douglas Harley for more Details.
26th November – 7:15pm
Poker Night
Please contact Stephen Nutt for more Details
This week at Hamilton Park
The 1st XV are away to Sundays Wells in the AIL. The team will be travelling to Cork on Friday evening.
The 2nd XV are at home to Armagh in the Second XV league KO 2:30 while the thirds have a week off and the 4ths travel to Civil Service, also a 2:30 ko.
The under 19s are back on the road this week as they travel to Banbridge, 1:00pm ko, and the under 15s host Ballymena, ko at 11:00am.
The Ladies a.k.a. The Iron Maidens are at home this Sunday as they entertain Malone in the Development League, ko at 1:00pm.
