Belfast Harlequins 3rds 20 v Ards 13

Ards travelled to Deramore to play this Crawford Cup match.  Bolstered by the return of Danny Patton (playing his first game since January due to injury), Adam Coulter (also returning from injury) and Sam McVeigh making his first appearance of the season Ards started brightly with strong carries from Patton and went ahead after 5 minutes with a well struck penalty by Adam Carroll.  Quins 0 v Ards 3

Quins levelled after 8minutes with a penalty after Ards were penalised for not staying on their feet.  Quins 3 v Ards 3

Ards got back into their stride forcing the game deep into the Quins half; in the 13th minute hooker Davy Reid took a ball against the head, No.8 Davy Thompson picked the ball and carried three Quins players over the line in the process of scoring, Carroll converted.  Quins 3 v Ards 10

Ards’ intensity then dropped and their play got sloppy, wasting some good ball.  In the 37th minute Quins were awarded a penalty which they tapped quickly, catching Ards with their backs to play the Quins outhalf ran through under the Ards posts for a converted try. 

Half-time:  Quins 10 v Ards 10

Quins started the second half the better and went ahead in the 48th minute following a catch and drive from a lineout, with their No8 trundling over, the conversion was missed.  Quins 15 v Ards 10

This Quins score reignited Ards and they upped their game with Jonny Dawson and Onisi Burekama coming more into the game with their hard running and quick recycling of the ball.  Quins were reduced to 14 men in the 52nd minute after their centre was penalised for not rolling away.  Ards continued to press and Burekama’s influence was negated in the 55th minute when after being the victim of a high tackle he shoved the offending player to the ground, a melee followed; Burekama was red carded for his part and a Quins player was yellow carded.  

Ards narrowed the gap with a Carroll penalty.  Quins 15 v Ards 13

In the 70th minute it was Quins turn to take a ball against the head, from this they moved the ball to the backs and their centre crashed through for an unconverted try.  Quins 20 v Ards 13

The final 10minutes saw Ards exert all the pressure, which Quins could only negate by conceding penalties; with four penalties in quick succession being conceded in their red zone but no further sanctions given by the referee.  Ards were unable to cross the Quins line and a knock on saw Quins turnover the ball and clear their lines and the referee blow for full time.

Final score:  Quins 20 v Ards 13