Following a run of losses, Ards 1st XV faced the challenge of Malone RFC 2nd XV at Gibson Park in the semi-final of the Junior Shield. The coaching team were pleased to welcome back a number of players and select an almost full strength team on the day.

Playing with a strong wind advantage in the first half, Ards won a scrum and from it a penalty. A break up the right by centre Aaron May was followed by multiple phases, moving the ball left for wing Ethan Bell to take the opening try after only a few minutes. The conversion from Joel DePledge was good and an early lead taken at 0-7.

Possession stayed with Ards who moved into the Malone 22, earning a penalty. A line out drive followed by two phases saw the second try on the board just after 10 minutes from Tom Arthur Donnan. DePledge added the conversion for a 0-14 lead.

From the restart Malone tidied up their attack and it took some strong defence from Ards to keep them out and win back the ball. A deep kick was well recycled by the home side and ran back into Ards' 22. With the Ards defence scrambling, Malone had numbers wide tot he left and their wing took a deserved try. The conversion was wide and the score moved to 5-14 as the first quarter was closing.

The second quarter was a much closer affair as Malone were now in top gear and attacking well. Ards' defence remained their equal, but only with strong co-ordination and commitment across the team, with Robbie Grant and Matthew Kane featuring. Malone's fly half and No8 were leading their play and their line out was very effective, whilst Ards' phase play was quick, but not taking advantage of its opportunities. An extended period of play in the middle third of the pitch ensued as a result. Malone threatened briefly towards the end of the half, but Ards finished the period in control. Half time Ards 1sts 14 v Malone 2nds 5

A much more relaxed Ards came out for the third quarter, playing with more depth and quality and their destructive scrum controlling first phase. Luke Megarity came close to a try following phased possession as substitutes Jack Smith and Ross Torney entered the fray. Ards' fitness was giving them more width and line breaks and their defence continued to hold, with good work from Grant, Danny McCullough, Curtis Ewing and Kane. Another break on the right led by full back Rory Christie brought them deep into the Malone 22. A line out steal from Megarity saw the ball flashed wide across the backline, for Aaron May to step two defenders and take Ards' third try. DePledge's conversion was just wide, but the score was now 5-19.

Winning the restart, Ards carried once, then moved the ball quickly across the backline for Bell to race up the wing with defenders in pursuit. Tracking at pace, Christie took his pass to cut through the cover and score under the posts. DePledge's conversion was taken and a clear lead established at 5-26 with the final quarter underway.

With 70 minutes played, Ards remained in control with line breaks from Torney and Trevor Devlin. Forcing an error in defence, DePledge intercepted a pass and offloaded to Bell to sprint up the wing and round under the posts for the fifth try. Taking the conversion himself, Bell moved the score to 5-33. Dominant carries from Kane kept play with Ards and the backline used the ball well, with Grant coming close to a further score. Fuelled by the desire for a score, Malone finished well, breaking out on the right and working phases to take an unconverted try with the last play of the match for a scoreline of 10-33.

A Junior Shield final at the Affidea Stadium now awaits Ards on 27th December against Randalstown RFC. However, before then, there are 3 important league games as Ards will seek to use their rediscovered form to move back towards the top of the table again.