Ards 1sts travelled to Roughfort on Saturday for their latest game against Academy RFC. Ards recorded a good win at Roughfort earlier in the season in the Junior Shield, but injuries and resting in a very busy schedule saw many changes to the Ards squad on the day.

Academy chose a large pack and a kicking game from the start and used this to good effect to dominate the opening 10 minutes. Weathering the initial pressure as a steady drizzle started, Ards put together some snappy phases and earned a line out in the home 22 for a period of possession before the home side engaged their kicking game again. As the second quarter was underway, they earned a kickable penalty and took the lead at 3-0.

Ards showed good aggression from the restart, although both sides' handling and tackle height was below par and there was little flow. By virtue of making less mistakes, Ards brought increasing pressure to bear, ending with a scrum deep in the Academy. A strong series of drives from the Ards pack followed centralising play and stretching the home defence, Robbie Johnston switched play and the ball moved wide to the right for wing Mason McFarland to score in the corner. The difficult conversion from Angus Christie was good and Ards took the lead at 3-7.

Possession was changing hands regularly and both physios were called into action as the physicality of the game continued. Earning a penalty, Academy kicked deep for a line out and ran a smart set move to score in the corner to take the score to 10-7.

In the final minutes,  frustrating penalties against Ards including one on the half time whistle, saw the score move to 13-7 and catch up rugby to come in the second half.

Academy started the second half as they did the first and won a penalty in front of the posts after 2 minutes to move their lead on to 16-7.

Ards’ response was swift as they built phases well to go deep in the home 22, before a lack of control forced a turnover. For most of the next 30 minutes, play was restricted to the middle third of the pitch, as neither side could control their own breakdown, ball handling or kicking from hand despite a desire to do so, as both physios were kept busy.

With 10 minutes remaining, Ards came close to a great score on the left wing through Johnston, but the referee adjudged a knock on in the play. More stop start rugby and continuous swapping of possession saw Academy gain some ground and earn a penalty as Ards sought to run the ball out of their own half. The kick was well taken to move the score to 19-7.

As the clock was counting down, further injury stoppages and turnovers by both sides saw a scrum to Academy on the Ards 22. Running a set move, they took their second try and the conversion as the final whistle sounded with the score at 26-7. Another difficult reverse for the Ardsmen, but they will look to regain their recent form next week when they visit Monaghan RFC.