Ards 2s hosted Ballynahinch 5s in the league on Saturday in what turned out to be a very closely contested game.

Match kicked off in lively fashion and with barely a minute on the clock, Ards made a good 60 meters before offloading to a supporting Matthew Bell to finish off a great start under the posts. Adam Carroll added the extras and Ards were off to a perfect start.

Hinch had not come over to make up the numbers however and on 13 minutes scored an unconverted try of their own.

Sam McVeigh was next to step up and was well rewarded with a great try after his forward buddies helped pin their Hinch counterparts deep in their own 22.

Carroll split the sticks once again and Ards sizeable support were happy teddies.

As the clocked ticked towards the halfway mark, Hinch piled on the pressure and dispute some heroic defence by the home side, were able to score and convert their second try.

At halftime the score read 14 - 12, in Ards favour, and this game began living up to great expectations.

The second half started as fast as the first had finished. Ross Hughes at 9 was getting good ball out to the backs throughout the game, before a shrill blast of the whistle gave Adam Carroll a go to slot the ball over and add another 3 points to his tally.

Hinch were mounting attack after attack whilst Ards were resolute in their defence.

On one such attack, Matty Bell forced a turnover ball and hoofed it up the field where he outpaced the covering fullback to score another great try. The conversion was missed, but Ards supporters were still happy bunnies.

Hinch launched another monstrous onslaught near the end and were finally rewarded with a fine converted try as the game went into the red zone - stoppage time.

A flurry of activity resulted in a penalty coming Ards way before Adam Carroll chipped the ball into touch for the final whistle to sound and leave Ards 22 - 19 from a very pulsating game.

Credit to both teams for making it so entertaining and to all the Ards boys for putting in a tremendous shift against a well drilled side.

Ross Hughes got the backs man of the match for a very neat performance with his good communication, passing, box and clearance kicks.

Sam McVeigh put in another gutsy shift in the forwards and was named their man of the match.

Both players received a little something to help keep the could winter nights at bay.

Thanks are extended to Hinch for a great game, the match day official, the very welcome Ards support and the ever present touchline jury.

Ards host Hinch 4s in the Crawford Plate on 14 December, so please make yourselves available for this game and attend training if you can.