Match Reports And Scores
1st XV – No game
2nd XV – No Game
3rd XV – No Game
4th XV v Lisburn – Postponed
U19s – Monaghan 17 v 24 Ards – Plate S/F
U17s – Ards v Bangor
U15s – No Game
U13s – Lisburn v Ards
Youth
The U19s travelled South of the boarder on Saturday to face Monaghan in the Plate semi-final and returned as 17 – 24 victors on the day. This was a superb result from a great bunch of players who thoroughly deserve to have reached the final.
Congratulations are extended to all the players and management team as we now look forward to the final on April 16.
The U19s have also progressed into the quarter-finals of the Nutty Krust competition after defeating Ballyclare 19 – 13 last Wednesday (March 16), so once again lads, well done.
U19s Match Report
After a great win in the Nutty Krust against Ballyclare on Wednesday night, an in form Ards U19s travelled to Monaghan for this Plate semi-final match.
Ards got off to a great start with a well worked try after 10 minutes which was scored by Lewis Dugan and converted by Jordan De Pledge.
This was answered four minutes later by a well taken unconverted Monaghan try, Ards kept up the pressure but Monaghan, through quick ball, scored another unconverted try.
From the restart Ards applied good pressure through the forwards which was rewarded with a De Pledge penalty just before half time to make the scores level at ten apiece at the break.
Monaghan started stronger than Ards in the second half scoring an easy converted try. This was just what the young Ardsmen needed to spur them into action resulting in some great flowing rugby which was rewarded with two great solo tries by out-half Ricky Aston, both of which were converted by De Pledge.
Unfortunately the game was marred when a Monaghan player was yellow carded for killing the ball and unsportsmanlike heckling and verbal abuse directed at the Ards coach after the match.
Ards are now looking forward to the final, good luck lads keep it up.
Senior
The only senior game due to be played at Ards last week, was the 4th XV v Lisburn in the league. Unfortunately, Lisburn cried off and so Ards will be awarded the points.
Next week sees a full return to action for all the senior teams in their various leagues, but alas none of these will be played at Hamilton Park.
The 1st XV head South to play Barnhall in their penultimate AIL fixture of the season. The 2nds also head ‘South’ (ish) when they travel ‘North’ to take on Donegal Town in the Conference league. Not too far away, the 3s will be being hosted by Coleraine in a league ‘double header’ where as the closest thing to a home game on Saturday will be over at Bangor when the 4s travel to the seaside town to take on their North Down rivals, also in the league.
IRFU Club 7s
Ards have entered a team in the IRFU Club 7s tournament to be held on Saturday May 7 at Belfast Harlequins rugby grounds.
This IRFU sponsored competition will see a number of provincial tournaments taking place in the four provinces of Ireland where the eventual winners will go on to represent Ireland in a European Club 7s tournament, later in the year.
All good stuff, so keep your eyes peeled for the draw being made soon.
Cois Beukes 3 Nations Cycle Challenge May 27th – 31st 2011
There have already been a number of functions to help raise funds and awareness for this charity cycle event in memory of our former head coach Cois Beukes, with the most recent of these taking place at Ards Rugby Club during the Ireland v England RBS 6 Nations clash at the Aviva stadium in Dublin.
A great day was had by all and the organisers would like to thank everyone who attended this event and made a valuable contribution on the day.
For more information, please log on to www.justgiving.com/coiscycle and www.expeditionwise.com
Mini
The Ards Mini Rugby Tournament this season will take place on Sunday April 17 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 have also been invited to enter teams in a number of other Tournaments in the coming weeks at CIYMS, Cooke and Lisburn, and details on these and the age groups involved will be known soon.
Social
The next FARLS gathering will be held in the clubrooms on Friday March 25 from 12:30. Please remember to book your place through your usual point of contact with your choice of menu, beef or salmon.
Over 60 Club members and representatives from other Clubs attended the Ards Annual Club Dinner held in the clubhouse on Wednesday March 16.
Thank you to everyone who attended on the night and help make it a most enjoyable evening and especially Teddy Sloan and Terry Atcheson for organising the event.
Tag Rugby
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 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 March 26
Ards 1st XV v Barnhall – AIL (Away)
Ards 2nd XV v Donegal Town – League (Away)
Ards 3rd XV v Coleraine – League (Away)
Ards 4th XV v Bangor – League (Away)
Ards U19s v TBC
Ards U17s v TBC
Ards U15s v TBC
Ards U13s v TBC
All Saturday fixtures have a 2.30pm kickoff 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
