The visitors to Hamilton Park this weekend were Academy RFC, as the business end of the league campaign is well underway. Coming into the game, Academy lay 4th in the table behind 3rd placed Ards and they had claimed victory in the corresponding match at Roughfort in November, with the last play of the contest. Ards saw some changes, with the injured Aaron May covered by Ryan Upritchard at centre, teenager Blake Lilburn earning a start in the second row and the return from injury of Angus Christie at scrum half.

Ards received the kick off playing towards Strangford Lough and into a strong and blustery wind. With no safe kicking option, the ball was run out through several phases before a box kick was charged down. A scramble for the ball saw the Academy wing touch down for a 0-5 lead.

Ards worked hard with ball in hand with small gains that were frustratingly won back with a simple kick from the visitors. A scrum on Ards 22 saw a step inside from Robbie Johnston, who ran to half way before releasing Upritchard to kick on for a great score to level matters at 5-5.

With field position easy to find, Ards' 22 was under threat at the end of the first quarter and a kickable penalty for Academy was goaled to retake the lead at 5-8.

However, these would be the last points for the visitors as Ards dominated possession, underpinned by scrum turnovers and hard defence. As the half hour mark approached, a series of penalties ended with a scrum option taken from 5 metres out. Walking the ball forward, the Ards pack provided a score for No8 Joel DePledge, which he converted for a score of 12-8.

Hard defence through the gain line from Ards, along with aggressive rucking work saw a series of stoppages and replacements for both sides, as Ards were winning the battle of the breakdown. A lineout on their 22 saw the Ards backline run an audacious move, with Johnston splitting the visitors' midfield before releasing full back Rory Christie on halfway to run in another great score and a lead of 17-8.

Academy found some form in the final minutes of the half and were camped in the Ards 22, but robust defence held them out as the half closed. Half time Ards 17 v Academy 8

Now with the wind advantage, Ards pushed on and spent the vast majority of the second half in positive territory. However, they were guilty of overcooking moves in pursuit of a bonus point try and a good number of opportunities went begging. In the end it took 30 minutes to effectively walk in a try from a line out penalty, with hooker Tom Arthur Donnan spotting a gap for the score and a lead of 22-8.

The bonus point try seemed to relax the whole team and another line out penalty soon after saw Donnan again touch down from the back of the driving maul. Angus Christie's conversion moved the scoreline on to 29-8 and the final whistle sounded shortly thereafter.

Next week sees the visit of Letterkenny as Ards continue their push for a top 2 finish to the season.