Ards travelled to Deramore Park on Wednesday night to play the “Devels” in their first Senior 2nd XV game of the season.
The game started at pace with Ards trying to impose their pattern on the play but hard defence saw them concede a number of turnovers in the first few minutes of the game, however the tale of Quins side was soon to visit them again, within 3 minutes of play their influential captain, Mike Willis suffered a torn calf muscle and had to leave the pitch reducing the home side to 14 players.
Quins fronted up although Ards then smelt the chance of a victory with playing against 14 men for 77 minutes, they took the game to Quins and tried to create overlaps but the home side were up to the task resulting in debutant winger Charlie Campalani score the first try of the match, Matt Mullan conversion was on target but the wind just took it round the the right upright making the score 5- 0 for Quins.
The Ards side dominated the scrums making it easy for them to attack off their own put in and place massive pressure on the home sides scrum although they didn’t manage to gain much territorial advantage from this, Quins scrum half, Chris Millar managed to deliver good ball off the backward moving scrums and the excellent backline did the rest but the missing player meant Quins just couldn’t get the next score.
The half ended at 5 – 0 for Quins
The second half started at a frantic pace, Ards still well in the game but Mullan knowing the “Devels” had to pull away struck a drop goal which this time the wind pulled to the left, however soon after the restart he had the opportunity to kick a penalty which took the score to 8 – 0.
The Quins scrum had been sorted at half time and was performing on their own put in giving the back a good attacking platform and another penalty shot by Mullan giving them a 11- 0 lead and with the open play domination starting to pull away from Ards
Just after this Quins flanker Neale Trimble had to leave the pitch for medical attention to his shoulder, he did return 12 minutes later but during this time the home side had to hold off some good attacks by Ards. On Trimbles return Quins moblie Prop, Oran McIlmurry left the pitch with suspected calf tear leaving the side back down to 13 men.
At this stage Ards crashed up the centre of the pitch resulting in an unconverted try, 11 – 5.
Quins responded and had a number of attacks on their line with Mullan and Campalani being held just inches off the line both times, the lack of supporting numbered meant recycling was too slow and Ards were able to clear their line. It was not long until the numbers advantage showed and Ards created a lovely converted try taking them into the lead on 11- 12.
Quins then lost their 3rd player, second row Dan McRitchie with a head injury and the players started to ask what was going to happen, this was later answered by Campalani who went over for his second try from his new position, conversion was missed but Quins took the lead with 7 minutes to go 16 – 12.
Ards then lost a player to injury but still left them the 2 man overlap, Quins had been working hard from the start with Willis off and with the end in sight maybe slacked off slightly letting Ards break out of their own half, Quins scrambling defence was good, managing to get back and defend their 22 line but a break away from the Ards centre and what was seen as an infringement close to the line gave Ards a penalty try and the full time whistle, final score 16 – 19 for Ards.
This was another excellent performance by the side with only 12 players on the pitch, they had the game won until the last play and dominated the game, coach Mark Henderson said ” I was very pleased with all the players on the pitch, they all again fronted up with the odds against them and were unlucky to not have won. The loss of Mike at the start was massive not only down numbers, but losing his experience and leadership. This is our second game of the season and the second game we have played with 12 players due to injury on the pitch, yet only lost both games with a total of 11 points. It is ridiculous that the Ulster Senior 2nd XV teams are not carrying subs, these players play on the Firsts and Representative teams yet play Junior league numbers, tonight’s match was a good contest but we have all been there when the opposition goes down numbers and you romp to a win, nothing is gained form this for the development of Senior players”
Quins Team
O McIlmurry
M Logan
D Thompson
D McRitchie
R Waterson
C Wilde
N Trimble
M Willis (c)
C Millar
R Creighton
C Campalani
M Dass
R McKee
M Rodgers
M Mullan
