Last Saturday Ards 2nd XV entertained Academy 2nd XV in their final game of 2022. Over a month had passed since the 2nds last game, and with the game declared on after a morning pitch inspection, the 2nds looked forward to what would be a tough encounter.

Coach Simon Hamilton named a strong side, with a mixture of youth and experience. Ben Cooke, Keir Edgar and the evergreen Davy Reid starting in the forwards with Adam Cooke, Aaron May, Alex Hendrickse and Michael Taylor starting in the backs. The dynamic trio of Neil Horner, Matt McFarland and the returning Adam Curry making an impact off the bench this week.

Conditions were damp and soft underfoot. Ards kicked off towards Scrabo first half. Ards started well, with the Ards defensive line holding out against some strong Academy carries. This strong defensive work sought reward, with Ards then beginning to get more ball in hand. Strong forward carries from Jonah Mitchell, Edgar and Lewis English were beginning to create dents in the Academy defence. When the opportunity arose quick hands from Adam Cooke and Chris McClure saw Aaron May stroll in under the sticks after patient build up play. Converted. 7-0.

From the kick off, lack of discipline from Ards around the breakdown saw repeated turnovers and an extended time in their own half, with Academy putting Ards under pressure with some direct running. Good breakdown work from Reid, English and May prevented any further progress. After clearing their lines, Ards built up play with direct running from the Ards forwards of Edgar, Oren Kisby, Ben Cooke and skipper Jimmy Gray saw ground made. Quick ball to Adam Cooke saw him take on the defensive line and put an basketball esque offload to the supporting May who strolled in from the 22. Converted. 14-0.

Following the try, the play was interrupted with condition enforced errors by both sides. When the opportunity arose, Ards moved the ball quickly out wide with the back three of Ben Thompson, Alex Hendrickse and Taylor were beginning to cause Academy real problems in the wide channels. The loss of the influential Edgar saw Neil Horner replace him. After an extended period of time and patient play in the Academy 22 backrow for the day Ben Cooke score a deserved try. Unconverted. 19-0.

The remainder of the half saw Academy position themselves into the Ards 22. Dominant tackles from the Ards forwards combined with good defensive organisation & determination thwarted any Academy progress for Ards to finish the half on top.
HT 19-0

Academy started the second half well, maintaining good field position, with the Ards defence up to task. Ards began to roll through the phases, with Kisby, Mitchell, Horner and McClure making dents in the Academy defence. From an Academy clearance kick, full back Michael Taylor ran the ball back beating multiple defenders, who set up winger Ben Thompson who outran the covering defence for an unconverted score. 24-0.

Ards gathered the restart and made progress into the Academy half. Good build up play and quick play from Curry and Adam Cooke set up McClure, who broke the line and offloaded superbly to May to score his third try of the afternoon. Converted. 31-0.

Academy, who fought well all afternoon, positioned themselves in the Ards 22 after repeated indiscipline from Ards. Great defensive work from McFarland, English, Horner and the outside backs saw Academy repelled time and time again. Academy were guilty of spilling some gilt edged chances off kicks, but the pressure from the Ards defence kept the clean sheet in tact. Ards had the final say, when May scored his fourth try of the afternoon, beating last ditch tackles to score after good work from the forwards.

Ards played a composed game throughout, where they were equally organised in defence and attack. A good mixture of youth and experience and a few returning players. Many thanks to Academy, who despite the conditions never gave up and made Ards work hard defensively, especially in the second half. Ards next game is the 2nd round of the Forster Cup in late January - as the 2nds have a bye in the first round