Ards 1st XV travelled to Limavady RFC on Saturday for their second Championship 1 league fixture. The hosts were promoted as league winners last season alongside Ards and have been close adversaries for many seasons on the pitch and good company off it. Both sides earned close opening day victories the week before and were looking to build on their positive openings, albeit Ards saw a few further absences in their starting team.

Limavady took possession at the start and retained the ball well in their familiar style, earning a penalty. A line out maul was repelled, but a number of phases close in could not be and they took a 7-0 lead with a converted try.

Several minutes of aerial tennis saw Ards end up in the Limavady half and in a good position, but line out misfires cost them 50 metres. The home side's recycling and offloading was of high quality and patience and a large series of phases brought a second converted try for 14-0 as they dominated the opening quarter.

From the restart, Ards kicked into gear and enjoyed good territory and possession. A move to the right saw a 30 metre run from Ryan Upritchard, fending off tackles, but brought down just shy of the tryline. The follow up play saw an offside from the hosts that earned Ards a penalty and a yellow card for Limavady. Quick phases saw the ball moved wide to Aaron May for a try. With Joel De'Pledge taking the extras, the score moved to 14-7.

From the restart, Ards were on the attack and a line break from May saw the final pass dropped as an equalising try beckoned. The rest of the first half was a breathless end to end exchange, with the home side's free running offloading game stretching the Ards defence, as Ards in turn came close more than once, with runs from Rory Christie, May and Upritchard featuring. In the end, a fine improvised move from Limavady over 60 metres with multiple offloads brought a converted try on the stroke of half time for 21-7.

The second half started positively for Ards and a good run from Ethan Bell saw them threaten. After period of exchanges, Ards were in positive territory and a clearance kick was gathered by Upritchard and flung wide to May. The wing then powered through a number of defenders to take Ards' second try and reduce the deficit to 21-12.

With the final quarter well underway, Ards seemed poised to extract something from the game in terms of bonus points, but a succession of injuries saw a number of players leave the pitch and forwards playing in the backs. Limavady took full advantage and their flowing game, running lines and passing added four further well taken tries for a win of 48-12.

A difficult road trip for the Ardsmen and a salutary lesson of the margins that exist in this league. They will regroup for next Saturday at Hamilton Park as they open their defence of the Junior Shield against Randalstown.