Happy New Year to everyone from All at Ards RFC
Exiles Charity Game
The annual News Years day charity fixture featuring an Ards select (Nutts Crackers) against an Exiles select (Pudsey’s All Stars) went ahead at Hamilton Park on Saturday in front of a modest but appreciative audience.
The day had started off very encouragingly in bright wintery sunshine but as is the norm, the closer it got to kick-off time, the thicker the clouds became until the icy rain drizzled down and put a bit of a dampener on the afternoon’s proceedings. Nevertheless, the game went ahead as planned with both sets of players and spectators enjoying the day’s spectacle.
In the end, ‘Nutts Crackers’ just shaded their illustrious opponents before everyone retired to the warmth of the clubhouse and replenished their bodily reserves with some welcomed mulled wine and Irish stew.
Click Here for pictures of the game, its the pictures rotating at the top of the screen (Ards Rugby Website)
Congratulations and thanks are extended to everyone who participated in the event or who made a valuable contribution to the Anthony Nolan Bone Marrow Trust in memory of Michael Taylor.
Next week, New Years rugby returns to Hamilton Park when the 1st XV host Rainey Old Boys in the AIL and the 2nds take on Enniskillen in the Towns Cup. Meanwhile the 3rds will travel to Ballymena in the League, and the U17s will face Instonians at Shaws Bridge also in the League as the Minis play away to Holywood also on Saturday.
The 4ths have a bye in the next round of the McCambley Cup but are trying to rearrange one of their postponed fixtures from last year. The U19s start their Cup run on January 22 but hope to have a couple of friendlies under their belts before then.
The Ladies are still inching towards their first game and it is hoped that details on this will announced soon
Please consult your team coach or club website for any late changes.
RBS 6 Nations
Ticket applications for Ireland’s RBS 6 Nations HOME games are now on release for club members and must be returned no later than Saturday January 15.
HOME games as follows:-
Sunday, February 13
IRELAND v France, Aviva Stadium, 3pm
Saturday, March 19
IRELAND v England, Aviva Stadium, 5pm
Applications can be collected from the clubhouse and must be returned with the appropriate fees, to either Alastair Wilson, Robin Cole or Terry Atcheson no later than Saturday January 15.
News Worthy Items
Please remember to keep on submitting news worthy items, match reports and photos etc to the club PRO or webmaster for publication in the local media and club website, on a regular basis
Training
Training is back to normal at the club on Tuesdays and Thursdays for the Seniors and Youth players and Wednesdays for the Ladies. The Minis will resume on Sunday 2nd January at 2pm.
Social
Next Up on the social calendar, is a Poker Night on Saturday January 22nd from 8pm. Please contact Gareth Paden or Steven Eachus for more information.
Youth
Ards Youth section has performed well so far this season with some impressive displays of rugby at both under 19s and 17s.
The under 19s start their cup run on the 22nd and hope the Branch have sorted out the problems from last season that saw them removed from the semi finals through no fault of their own.
The under 17s remained top of their league over the holiday period and with only two games to play are looking forward to qualification to the all Ireland play offs for the second year in a row. Their league cup run starts also on the 22nd of Jan so lots of rugby and hard work for the squad.
A number of under 15s have moved up to the under 17s and are finding the going tough but are holding their own so well done to them and keep coming down the more that do the better.
It is hoped that the support for both teams will continue and improve over the next few weeks with a lot of rugby the support will be an extra man
See you at pitch
Mini
The Minis travel to Holywood on SATURDAY January 8 for their first set of games in the New Year. Kick-off is from 10am and players should meet at Holywood no later than 9.45am
Ladies
The new squad training kit has arrived for all players who expressed an interest to Ian and let him know a size. Read on
The shirts have been organised at the request of the players who wanted to have a club top to train in and help promote and raise awareness of the ladies team out and about.
The new shirts have allowed for a squad photo as we continue to move the Ladies section onwards and upwards towards our first of many games!
Tag Rugby
Bookings for the next set of schools Tag Rugby sessions, are beginning to fill up nicely with Londonderry Primary, Comber Primary, St Patrick’s Primary, Killinchy Primary and Alexander Dickson Primary all set to avail of this fun sport early in the New year. Ards Arena is also introducing Tag Rugby into their activities on Monday and Thursday evenings in January 2011.
Tag Rugby (none 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 January 8
Ards 1st XV v Rainey Old Boys – AIL (Home)
Ards 2nd XV v Enniskillen – Towns Cup (Home)
Ards 3rd XV v Ballymena – League (Away)
Ards 4th XV v Bye – McCambley Cup
Ards U19s v TBC
Ards U17s v Instonians – League (Away)
Ards Minis v Holywood Minis – Friendly (Away) Kick-off 10am
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
Many thanks and kind regards
Roy Lawton
Ards RFC PRO
