Ards 2nds welcomed visitors, Clogher Valley to Hamilton Park, in this rearranged 'double header' fixture, where the winning side would take all 4 points on offer from this league encounter.

The game got underway with captain on the day, Graeme Taylor, taking the ball on the charge and smashing though the centre to make about 40 meters before being hauled down.

This helped set the scene with Ards dominating possession and territory throughout, Clogher were strong in the set piece though and that did make things difficult at times.

With the forwards being well marshalled by a sprightly Gary Presho, Ards recycled the ball well to the backs, who just seemed to lack a little bit of continuity to press home the attack and score more than they actually did.

Clogher were first on the scoreboard after 15 minutes, when they seemed to ghost through the Ards defence in the middle of the park after a kick chase, to dot down under the posts for a converted try.

Ards pressed hard at the restart and some slick hands out the far side, saw David Armstrong dive in for the corner only to adjudged to have been in touch by the visitors touch judge, as he grounded the ball.

This only helped spur the homeside on and they peppered the visitors try-line for the next 15 minutes until Armstrong got his well deserved try converted by Taylor Nutt.

At the break it was all square at 7-a-piece with the tale of the half suggesting Ards should have been well ahead with the darting Conor Young making good ground ably supported by Ryan Thompson, Tom Donnan, Ryan McCarroll and Matthew Bell.

The second half was played in a similar vein only this time John Dowey joined Presho in the second row to help settle the scrums more in Ards favour.

Once again, Ards had the lions share of everything, but just couldn't convert all their good work into points, no matter how hard they tried.

Ethan Dodge and Jack Miskimmin were taking great line-out ball from Phil Shields 'arrows', and Ashley Peden used his dainty self, to ensure nobody sneaked in the back door to spoil the show.

Some good carries making good yardage from Matty Bell and Ryan Thomson helped suck defenders in to create space for the backs to take it on.

New kid on the block, Matthew Patton, had 2 great mentors in the guise of Presho and Dowey to help keep him on the straight and narrow, with the former using his considerable knowledge to turnover ball, time and time again.

On 57 minutes, and after relentless pressure from the homeside, Ards were awarded a penalty just outside the opposition 22 which Taylor (GT) obligingly converted, to put Ards ahead for the first time in the game.

The Ards back three, Chris Murphy, Adam Coulter and James Rankin, worked tirelessly together and only last gasp tackling prevented them crossing the line to get their names on the score-sheet.

In the end, it was a pleasing Ards victory at 10 - 7, with 4 more valuable league points in the bag and 4 games left to play.

Thanks are extended to Clogher for a very entertaining game, the match official and the touchline faithful who came along to cheer on the team.

Ards 2nds: A Peden, P Shields, T Donnan, E Dodge, J Miskimmin, J Dowey, M Bell, R McCarrol, C Young, T Nutt, C Murphy, G Taylor, D Armstrong, J Rankin, A Coulter, M Patton, R Thompson, G Presho