Last Saturday Ards 2nds travelled Randalstown looking to build on the previous week’s improved performance. Ards welcomed back Neil Horner in the forwards, with Ryan McDougall starting at 9, Matthew Warnock at inside centre and club stalwart Michael Taylor returning at full back for his first appearance of the season. Ross Hughes and Ross Cockerill provided impact from the bench this week.

In wet conditions, Ards kicked off and immediately put Randalstown under pressure, with the Ards forwards running hard into the Randalstown defence, with the wet conditions ultimately proving the difference from Ards getting a score and allowing Randalstown to clear their lines effectively. Following a clean lineout take from Horner, quick hands from the Ards backline put Michael Taylor into space who passed onto Abie De Silva who ran down the wing, who then executed a sublime 2v1 to Adam Coulter who galloped in under the sticks. Converted by Gaw. Randalstown 0 v ards 2nds 7.

Some scrappy play from both sides littered the game with scrums. Once Ards composed themselves, great forward drives and Ryan McDougall with quick ball at ruck time saw Ards place themselves in the opposition 22, Alex Watts went agonisingly close to a score but for some robust Randalstown defence.

An offside penalty saw Ards fly half Alex Gaw convert to extend the Ards lead. Randalstown 0 v Ards 2nds 10.

Randalstown replied well and began to put some phases together through their big forward pack which led to a converted Randalstown score under the sticks. Converted. Randalstown 7 v Ards 2nds 10.

Ards again went to task up front, with forwards Jonah Mitchell, Sam McVeigh, Darragh Kelly and Adam McKee making significant dents in the Randalstown defence, with the 10,12,13 trio of Gaw, Warnock and Chris McClure beginning to look dangerous ball in hand. A great pick & go from McDougall made good yards who then drew the last defender to put centre McClure over for a converted score. Randalstown 7 v Ards 17

Ards played out the remainder of the half well, with robust defence from Ards and multitude of scrums seeing Ards lead at the break.

Half time: Randalstown 7 v Ards 17

The second half saw Ards continue to move the ball effectively despite the poor conditions, with the backline beginning to look really dangerous in the wider channels, with only dropped balls lacking Ards a clinical edge.

Whenever Randalstown had any kind of possession, Ards were very much up to the task defensively, with McVeigh, Gray, Watts, Hamilton and Warnock up to the task repelling the attack. Repeated penalties saw Ards have a 5metre lineout, a front peel from Sam McVeigh was thwarted by Randalstown only Horner to be driven over by his forwards, this was converted by Gaw. Randalstown 7 v Ards 24

From the restart, hard direct carries from Kelly, Mitchell and McVeigh followed by quick hands out wide saw Adam McKee gallop into space, his offload found the supporting Warnock who strolled in for the bonus point try. Converted again by Gaw. Randalstown 7 v Ards 31

Ards used the bench with Hughes and Cockerill now on to bolster the Ards ranks. Randalstown from the restart used their forwards effectively, with Ards keeping them at bay with some strong robust defence from Warnock, De Silva and the Ards forward pack . However, after multiple scrums and multiple pick & goes, Randalstown sneaked in at the corner for an unconverted try. Randalstown 12 v Ards 32

Ards had the final say, when Gaw seized upon a dropped ball by the Randalstown backline to run in unopposed from 40 metres out for a deserved try. Randalstown 12 v Ards 36

This was a good Ards performance in poor conditions to overcome a stubborn Randalstown side, built on a solid performance from the previous week. This Saturday Ards 2nds travel to Academy for a rearranged game.