ARDS 2nds 21 - BANBRIDGE 2nds 28

Ards came up short in their quest to go top of the 2nds league. Missing Captain Adam McKee and second row partner Pete Croan who were at the Gilroy show in the Aviva. The only show at Hamilton Park was a lack rust home team and a poor referee who restricted both teams to stoppage rugby.
Ards showed eight changes from last week’s win over Quins due to various reasons started poorly and were disorganized in defence. Banbridge kept it tight in the forwards and used their dominance in the lineout to good affect scoring two converted trys from catch and drives over the Ards line. A strange decision against the Ards fly half standing in a offside position from a formed lineout put Banbridge in position for another push over try from a 5mt lineout. 0-19 after 20 mins.
Ards gradually worked their way back into the game and the pack was showing some signs of the dominance which had been apparent in recent games. Eventually, a visitor’s scrum was shunted back, the ball won and, from a series of pick-and-goes, Nathan Burns made a penetrating line break for outside centre Chris McClure to collect and touch down under the posts Trevor Devlin added the conversion.

10 minutes later and the lead were reduced to 5 points, with Ards mid-field possession preceding a break by Neil Armstrong, who passed on to Colin McClure and then to Garth McBurney who powered over close to posts. Conversion from Devlin and Ards were back in the match 14-19.

The resultant Ards attack foundered on a knock-on and Banbridge were able to transfer play to the home 22, but continuity was being disrupted by handling errors by both sides and increasing penalties counts and half-time arrived with neither side coming close.

Another break by Nathan Burns set up a promising position. Conran Stewart and Adam Coulter drove through the middle, forcing the visitors to kill the ball; however Devlin pulled his effort at goal well wide of the posts. It was Banbridge who opening the scoring in the half with a penalty in front of the posts for lazy running. Shortly after Banbridge where reduced to 14 players with the lost of a second row to injury.
Ards refused to be bowed, however, and went on the offensive again, with the resultant pressure forcing a kickable penalty which was again missed.

Banbridge fell foul of the referee and had a player yellow carded quickly followed by a second yellow. Chris McClure showed good awareness to kick and gather a lose pass along the visitors back line; the ball was off loaded to Trevor Devlin to score under the posts Burns added the conversion. 21-25 to Banbridge.

Ards lost winger Stephen McKee and Garth McBurney to the bin as the game became a farces with yellow cards. Just as Banbridge were back at full strength they lost an other player to a yellow card. In between the confusion Banbridge slotted over a dubious penalty.

With 10 minutes to go the Banbridge number 8 was given a straight red card for a stamp at a ruck. Ards were unable to retain any significant possession and missed another penalty to reduce the lead. The last 5 minutes Ards ran the ball out from the 22 making good in roads into the visitors half but play was forced into touch to end a frustrating game of rugby.

The stats of 5 yellow cards and 1 red would indicate a mass bawl and an indiscipline game but that was not the case.

Team: Neil Armstrong, Adam Coulter, Chris McClure, Trevor Devlin, Stephen McKee, Nathan Burns, Charlie Stewart, Andy Hassard, Adrian Dodds, Ryan Yates, Jonny Dawson, Gareth McBurney,Colin McClure,Conran Stewart, Matt Busby.