Ards 1sts returned to their Championship 2 League campaign on Saturday with the visit of Grosvenor RFC. The coaching panel were able to select a consistent squad for the day after having to cancel the previous week’s fixture due to the weather. Conditions on the day were far from ideal as Ards kicked off into a strong wind, with the Hamilton Park floodlights already in use. Quickly into their stride, a penalty was earned and the lineout option taken. The Ards driving maul was well organised and soon over the try line as Tom-Arthur Donnan took the score. The conversion was just wide, but the lead taken at 5-0.

Immediate pressure from the restart came from quick width through the backline and good work from Aaron May and Ethan Bell. A kick through from Robbie Johnston saw Grosvenor under pressure close to their try line and an attempted clearance kick was charged down by Shay Duckett and pounced on by Adam Finlay for the second score. Joel DePledge’s conversion was good and Ards were 12-0 to the good with 5 minutes played.

Grosvenor had some possession following the restart, but were repelled by a strong Ards defence, until a deft chip by their fly half was caught by the winger to run in out wide and narrow the gap to 12-5.

The Ards scrum was dominant from the start and the lineout was functioning well. In the loose there was a better flow to the phases, giving the backline numerous opportunities for territorial advantage, despite the conditions. Some chances though, were either rushed or overcooked and it took until almost the half hour mark to produce a dividend. With Robbie Grant, Luke Megarity and DePledge marauding in the loose, fly half Matthew Hamilton spotted a gap, made a line break and drifted through the cover to release Bell. With plenty to do, the wing took his try well out wide for a lead of 17-5.

Grosvenor were using the wind well as the half was closing and were able to clear their lines and make further opportunities. Ards’ defence remained committed, with Hamilton and Curtis Ewing to the fore, whilst Donnan and Matthew Kane kept the breakdown honest. Trevor Devlin replaced Ewing and Ards’ energy rose as the half was closing. A scrum won inside the Grosvenor 22 led to a sharp set play that saw Bell come into the line and hand off the last defender to take his second try, the bonus point and a lead of 22-5 on the whistle.

Starting the second half with the wind advantage, Ards were quick to go wide through the backline with May’s footwork creating space and numbers. With the forwards hungry for work and handling the ball well, that space to work in was increasing, as Johnston, May and Rory Christie continued to test an excellent Grosvenor backline defence. Further scrum penalties and lineout drives brought Ards close and switching direction to Hamilton, one move saw the fly half cut back in and evade the cover for a score. DePledge’s conversion was good and the score was now 29-5.

With Blake Lilburn and Ryan Upritchard replacing Danny McCullough and Jack Smith, the tempo was maintained as the third quarter was closing. Pivots Duckett and Hamilton were able to control direction of play with clean possession from the pack with good options being taken. A well chosen line by Devlin saw a trademark burst and offload to the tracking May, who sprinted away to score under the posts. With the extras from DePledge, the scoreline moved to 36-5.

Shortly after the restart, hard carries from Kane and Grant put Ards in behind the Grosvenor defence and Johnston threw a pass to Upritchard out wide. Brushing off tacklers, he scored well in the corner to take the score to 41-5.

Ards were on the attack again from the restart and come close, forcing goal line drop outs and clearance kicks into the wind. Collecting one in midfield, Johnston took a drop goal from 40 metres to move the score to 44-5, as the referee ended the game prematurely.

Overall a very strong performance from the entire Ards squad, who will now visit Grosvenor this Saturday in the return fixture in buoyant mood.