Look out for the Ards Ladies U18s at playing Ravenhill this Friday night
Ards Ladies U18s will be playing against Malone at Half Time during the Ulster – Triviso Match this Friday night.
CLICK HERE FOR U15 Training pictures
ARDS OUTGUNNED AT RIFLE PARK
Banbridge 60 V 3 Ards
Ards were on their travels again last Saturday, this time to Rifle Park to play Banbridge in an Ulster Senior League match. Traditionally, these matches and the corresponding All Ireland League encounters have been close affairs, but that was not the case on this occasion as the improvement shown by Ards last week was not followed through. In fact Ards found themselves 17 points down after 15 minutes and 34-3 behind at the interval, to a strong, competent Banbridge team.
Although Ards were still missing a number of players through injury this was almost certainly not the home side’s full strength team either and the result must act as a wakeup call to the young Ardsmen if they are to be competitive in the forthcoming AIL matches which commence on 1st October. Injuries continue to mount up for Ards, with Minis, McClean and Stinson all having to be replaced in the first half. Colin McClure also had to leave the field during the first half with a blood injury. The return of Matthew Weir from a long term injury, as a replacement for Ards was encouraging, as was the form of Ryan Diver who having played a full game for the 2nd XV, then played 60 minutes of the 1sts match without difficulty. Ards, however only had a penalty from out half Paul Cox by half time. Kyle Agnew had burst over from short range but the Referree judged the ball was not grounded properly.
Following a rousing team talk at half time, Ards did compete well for the first 25 minutes of the second half during which there was no scoring from either side. However Banbridge always looked more likely to add to their tally and with injuries to Agnew, Cole and Quigg to deal with, the Ards resistance was eventually breached in the 66th minute and Banbridge showed how ruthless they can be by adding further scores in the final 10 minutes which, on balance they thoroughly deserved. Ards must now regroup and redouble their efforts on the training pitch to turn round a disappointing start to the season as the AIL campaign is just around the corner. The Ards Squad was; Foster, Piper, McClure, Dowey, Dawson, Stinson,
Minis, Harrison, Agnew, Cox, Wilson, Young, Cole, McClean, Millar, Weir, Bushby, Diver, Quigg, Kisby.
This Saturday Ards play their first home game of the season against Instonians with the game kicking off at 2.30pm.
