Ards 1st XV welcomed Monaghan RFC to Hamilton Park on Saturday for their first home fixture of the 2025-26 season. The previous Saturday saw a good start away to City Of Derry, but recent season encounters have been close, with Monaghan winning this same fixture in last year's campaign. Absences meant two changes to the Ards team, with Danny McCullough at prop and Trevor Devlin at substitute. Although a dry day, there was strong wind blowing and Ards played with that advantage for the first half.

A deep kick off from Robbie Johnston was allowed to find touch. A crooked throw from the visitors handed a scrum to Ards and the pack turned on the power to create a two phase move finished by lock Luke Megarity out wide in the second minute. The conversion was just wide, but the lead was 5-0.

Straight back into the Monaghan 22, Ards were just held up over the try line, but recovered from the drop out to move the ball deep to the left. Quick phases and a carry from hooker Tom-Arthur Donnan released the backs and a pass from Johnston picked a line from full back Rory Christie to step through the defence for the second try. Angus Christie's conversion was good and the score now 12-0.

Maintaining their tempo from the restart, Smith ran well to pass to tracking scrum half Shay Duckett, who fell just short of the try line. Monaghan exited in the face of a stiff home defence and won a penalty, taking them to the edge of the Ards 22, but good defensive hits forced a turnover. From the ensuing scrum, a run from centre Aaron May brought them back into the Monaghan half. A scrum turnover penalty led to a lineout, but again the burly Monaghan pack held the Ards ball up over the line. As the second quarter was well underway, Ards remained in the visitors half and scrum ball was moved quickly to the left for wing Ryan Upritchard to finish well against four defenders with good footwork, bringing the score line to 17-0.

Monaghan had possession from the restart and spent several minutes probing the home defence. A series of hits from Donnan and fellow forwards Curtis Ewing, Matthew Kane and Danny Patton forced a turnover. The resulting scrum saw the ball moved to Rory Christie to step and sprint through the entire cover defence from 60 metres out and take a fine score. The conversion from his brother Angus was taken and Ards were 24-0 in front on the half hour mark and their try bonus point in the bag.

Matthew Bell replaced McCullough and Ards kept their tempo and dominant tackles alive. They were in top at first phase as No8 Joel DePledge worked from the base of the scrum, creating further options for the backline. Flanker Ben Goldthorpe was gathering loose ball more than once and was on the end of one such move he started, but for his scoring pass to May to be deliberately knocked on by a Monaghan defender. The visitors were stuck in their half, but finally managed a clearing kick which was cleverly fielded and kicked back by Smith, Rory Christie was chased through to outpace the defence and touch down for a try. The conversion from Angus Christie on the stroke of half time saw Ards lead 31-0.

Receiving the kick off at the start of the second half, Johnston ran the ball back 60 metres before passing to the tracking Angus Christie to score. Converting his own try, the score moved to 38-0.

Creating good running lines from the restart, a kick through won a penalty from 5 metres and Duckett tap and drove over for a try. As Devlin replaced Goldthorpe, the pressure from Ards was relentless, but was in the face of dogged defence from Monaghan as they remained pinned in their half. Finally breaking through, Ards took a further try through Rory Christie and the conversion from Angus Christie brought the score line to 50-0.

Ards worked hard from the restart and created space to the right for an electric run from May to release that man Rory Christie again for his fifth try, with Angus adding the conversion. Monaghan then found some possession of their own and worked a series of moves into the home 22. Taking a crossfield kick option, their wing was on hand to score in the corner and make the score 57-5.

From the restart, slick hands from the backs saw the visitors defence well beaten and a try for Johnston under the posts, duly converted. With the final quarter underway Monaghan saw another period of possession in the home 22, but the defensive intensity remained high and a turnover was eventually won by May. The clearing penalty to touch saw lineout ball moved to midfield for Devlin to burst through on a 30 metre run before drawing the last man and passing to May to score under the posts. The conversion was the last play of the match as Ards took the win at 71-5.

Overall, a superb performance both sides of the ball from all 18 Ards men, created in hard training sessions and commitment to the playing standards demanded by the coaching team.

This Saturday sees a repeat of last season's Junior Shield Final, as Ards travel to Carrick in the first round of this year's shield journey.