For the first time since 2016, the first teams of Ards and Bangor RFC met in competition, as the newly promoted Hamilton Park side welcomed their old rivals for the opening match of their Ulster Championship 1 campaign. Despite the poor weather, a crowd of several hundred gathered to watch this much-anticipated fixture.

Head Coach Palmer Eccles and his team had a tough task in selecting the 18 on the day, despite a number of injuries and absences, with the side led, as always, by captain Robbie Johnston. Ards kicked off and earned an early penalty, which was kicked deep into the Bangor 22 for a lineout. Multiple phases from the home side were met with fierce tackling as the tone for the match was set early. Working first to the left and then to the right, an overlap was created and the ball moved to Mason McFarland on the wing for the opening score and a 5-0 lead.

From the restart, the same pattern repeated itself, with the Ards defence finally beaten by a clever step from the Bangor fly-half, who offloaded to his scrum-half to score. With the conversion added, Bangor nudged ahead at 5-7 with less than 10 minutes played. In spite of the conditions, the agenda was set by both sides for open, attacking rugby and committed defence in response. Ards won the restart and drove hard towards the Bangor line, ending up with a scrum from 10 metres. Again, a multiple-phase move was built and an overlap to the left exploited by fly-half Rory Christie, who stepped through to score. Joel De'Pledge added the conversion for a score of 12-7.

Bangor brought pressure immediately after conceding, as they had before. Winning a penalty, they applied sustained pressure as Ards infringed again. Running a set move, space was created for their pack to crash over for an unconverted try, levelling the scores at 12-12 as the first quarter ended. Each side's physio was now being called into action and the Bangor No. 8 left the field injured to be replaced. The visitors established better momentum and, after being held up over the line, their next attack saw a superb mazy run from their full-back to take a fine score close to the posts and regain the lead for his side at 12-19.

Before long, a tackle from scrum-half Angus Christie dislodged the ball, which he gathered on halfway to sprint towards the posts. Hauled down just short by the Bangor fly-half, the ball was moved to his brother Rory, who was tackled in the act of scoring and knocked on for a Bangor scrum. Ards remained in the Bangor half and were soon back close to the line. Robust defence from Bangor required patience from Ards, who waited for a chance to pounce through hooker Tom-Arthur Donnan for a try, with the equalising extras from De'Pledge moving the scoreline on to 19-19 with five minutes to play in the half.

After the players and spectators were able to rest during the half-time break, play resumed and Bangor held a strong advantage. Ards lost Blake Lilburn to injury and Tom-Arthur Donnan to a team yellow card 10 minutes in, as Bangor took advantage from the resulting scrum and were awarded a penalty try for a lead of 19-26. As both sides' play continued to belie the conditions, the ball was moved with tempo and width. Although a man down, Ards gained the upper hand and a chip-and-chase move saw the Bangor full-back gather close to his line and be carried over to concede a five-metre scrum as the third quarter was closing. Moving the ball across the backline, Ards won a breakdown penalty and Angus Christie took a quick tap to score a try, again converted by De'Pledge for 26-26.

It is often the case that such games regress into low-risk strategies, but there was plenty to keep the crowd on the edge, as the final quarter took over 30 minutes to complete, with injuries for both sides to contend with and drama aplenty to unfold. Bangor attacked from the restart, as expected, but were repelled and Ards moved quickly into the business end of the Bangor half. Knocking on the door for several minutes, stubborn Bangor defence denied them and then won a turnover, before giving away a penalty 40 metres out. De'Pledge calmly slotted the kick for Ards to take a narrow lead at 29-26.

The backlines were now competing as hard as the forwards, with Aaron May, Mason McFarland and Ryan Upritchard featuring and winning the territory battle. Prop Matthew Kane left the field as the Ards bench was exhausted and the final push to the finish began. Ards held positive territory until a brace of penalties pinned them back to their 22 and left them facing a Bangor lineout. Defending the drive, they split the Bangor maul and forced a scrum as last play was called. With the end now in sight, Bangor rallied to produce a great drive and force a penalty. Opting for a scrum, given the seeming advantage they held, Ards called on Kane to return from the bench at tighthead and he folded his opposite number to win a penalty, which was kicked out to secure the victory.

Credit to both clubs for a breathless, end-to-end game. They will cross swords again in the final game of the season at Upritchard Park. Our thanks to referee Jonathan Erskine and also to the large team of club volunteers who organised a superb day for all.