Ards 2nds 20 v Ballymoney 5

In what was anything but ideal conditions for playing a rugby match, Ards 2nds played Ballymoney 2nds at Hamilton Park.

Ards chose to play into the strong wind and wet conditions. After strong early pressure applied by the home team Ballymoney infringed at a ruck on their 22 and Adam Carroll kicked the resulting penalty. Ards 3 v Ballymoney 0.

After a period of play when conditions were at their worst, making it very hard for either team to put together extended phases of play, Scott Young broke through the Ballymoney defence to set up Gareth McBurney for the hard running second row to score under the posts. Carroll added the extras.

Halftime: Ards 10 v Ballymoney 0

With the conditions now in the home teams favour, the Ards pack started to put some controlled phases of play together and along with some good running lines off their backs got rewarded with a penalty just outside the Ballmoney 22, again Carroll kicked the points.

Ards 13 v Ballymoney 0

At this point Ards made a change with Adam Warnock moving in to 9, Young to 10 and Dee Armstrong to 13; with Ards adjusting to the changes Ballymoney upped their tempo and got rewarded with a try on the hour.

Ards 13 v Ballymoney 5

Ballymoney’s resurgence didn't last long with the home team pack, having controlled the set piece all game, showing that the hard work they'd done on their fitness does pay dividends, setting up good ball for the backs to take advantage off.

Matty Warnock did so in the 70th minute when he cut loose from his right wing and after using good foot work and strength in beating,4 defenders in quick succession found himself ,1 on1 with the Money full back whom he coasted round to finish a superb individual effort below the sticks.To keep it a family affair brother Adam added the conversion.

The final minutes were again dictated by the conditions .Both teams should be congratulated on their efforts to play good quality rugby considering the relentless weather for the 80 minutes.

Full time ARDS 20-5 Ballymoney