With extended pre-season training and two pre-season games under their belts, Ards 1sts started their 2025/26 campaign with a visit to City Of Derry RFC. Dark clouds and heavy rain greeted them on arrival and the weather was to set the tone of the day's encounter.

New season Captain Robbie Johnston led his team out to play with the advantage of the strong wind. Receiving the kick off, heavy carries from the forwards earned a quick penalty, for Johnston to clear deep into the home half. A resulting scrum saw Ards drive to a penalty advantage before releasing quick ball across the backline. Winger Ryan Upritchard made good ground before passing and fly half Angus Christie was just bundled into touch in the corner. Ards threatened briefly in the 22 with work from forwards Matthew Kane, Luke Megarity, Robbie Grant and Danny Patton featuring. However, the big home pack showed plenty of grit to hold them out and centralise play. Ards, though, were soon back into the home 22 and a backline move to the right almost saw Rory Christie take a score, but earn a penalty. Further drives earned another scrum 10 metres out as the conditions made for close carries and conservative play. Driving the CoD pack backwards , yet another penalty was awarded and Kane barrelled over the line with a trademark tap and go play. The conversion from Angus Christie was good and the lead finally taken after 17 minutes at 0-7.

From the restart Ards built good phases with centre Aaron May and No8 Joel DePledge featuring. CoD then enjoyed a short spell of possession, but the Ards defence was uncompromising and the ball was soon turned over for May and Upritchard to gain swift ground and earn a clearing penalty. More penalties brought Ards deep into the CoD 22 again, as they tested their well committed defence through the footwork of forwards Ben Goldthorpe and Matt Walker, ably assisted by the robust clear outs of pack leader Tom Arthur Donnan. Forcing their play led to a knock on and a scrum to the home side just 10 metres from their try line. The outstanding Ards scrum drove straight over the top of their opposition, winning a penalty. Again, up stepped Kane to tap and crash over the try line. Converted by Angus Christie, the lead moved on to 0-14 with 30 minutes played.

Possession for the home side was very thin, as wind advantage and a dominant scrum allowed Ards to hold sway for the remainder of the half. However, the conditions overall made running rugby difficult and Ards' half time advantage was as much built in the hard work of the breakdown and the tackle area, as it was in phases and ball distribution

Kicking off into the wind for the second half, Ards received similar tactics to those they were handing out themselves. Deep kicks and hard forward carries from the home side earned them a penalty on the 22 after a few minutes play. Opting for a successful kick to goal, the scoreline was moved to 3-14.

Ards had CoD under pressure on their own ball from the restart and a clearing kick from their 22 went 80 metres with the wind and over the dead ball line for a scrum back to Ards. With Curtis Ewing entering the fray to replace Goldthorpe at flanker, Ards probed the CoD defence, but they held tight and earned a relieving penalty. Matthew Bell replaced Walker at lock as Ards sought to keep their tempo and pressure high. As play passed the 50 minute mark, CoD continued a kick and chase game and won a penalty outside the Ards 22. Opting again for the kick, the score moved on to 6-14.
For a period, Ards became guilty of playing fair weather rugby and relying on their scrum to win turnovers, which led to them creating a few hairy moments for the onlooking coaching team. Adam Barnes came on as wing replacement. With the final quarter underway, a 40m break upfield by Grant led to a run inside from Barnes and a scoring chance for Angus Christie in close. However, the home defence remained organised and forced a turnover. Ards remained dominant in contact and earned a chance for May to move up the wing, but the move broke down. Soon after, good phases earned a chance for full back Jack Smith out wide to the right, but his chip through was just gathered by the covering defence. From the restart, Ards' pressure was relentless and quick hands in the backs released Bell to finish, rounding under the posts for a simple conversion by Angus Christie and a lead of 6-21.

With less than ten minutes left, Ards were searching for a bonus point. Quick phases and penalties awarded brought them close, with carries from Ewing, Patton and DePledge. Moving the ball wide to Upritchard saw him drive well, allowing the ball to be moved back to the forwards. A crashing carry from Bell led to a pop pass to DePledge, who barged through the last two defenders to take the bonus point try. With Christie's conversion added, the score moved on to 6-28.

With a few minutes remaining the home side were fighting for a consolation score and this came with the last play of the game out wide to the left. The conversion taken, the final score was 13-28.

A great start to the season for Ards with a 5 point win on the road and an early top spot in the table. However, there was a lot of first game rust still to brush off the whole squad and a hard week in training will no doubt follow before the visit of Monaghan to Hamilton Park next Saturday.