Last Saturday Ards 2nds were back in league action, travelling to Belmont for a game against CIYMS 2nds.

Coach Simon Hamilton had the luxury of picking a strong squad this week. Ross Torney, Lewis English & Stephen Ferguson starting in the forwards; Adam Coulter, James Stewart & Ben Thompson starting in the backline. The dynamic trio of Sam McVeigh, Neil Horner & Andy Brown provided impact from the bench this week.
Ards kicked off, and a CI mistake saw an early Ards penalty, with fly half Michael Taylor narrowly missing the uprights. From the resulting 22, good forward carries from Torney, captain Jimmy Gray & Jonah Mitchell saw Keir Edgar gallop through to score a deserved Ards try. Unconverted. 0-5.
Ards began to build good forward phases, with Torney, English & Adam McKee prominent. Good backline phases saw Ards maintain possession well, but too often the final pass let Ards down. From a turnover ball, CI utilised an overlap well to score in the corner. 5-5.

From the restart Ards put CI under pressure with dominant tackles and meeting the opposition at the gain line, with Michael Taylor, Callum O’Hanlon & Adam Coulter leading the charge and Ards forwards, Phill Shields, English & Edgar making it difficult for any quick CI ball.

However, a quick tap penalty saw CI score in the corner after several missed Ards tackles. Converted. 10-5.  

Ards again were dominant from the restart with good some carries and build up play, especially off scrum and lineout ball, again the final pass letting Ards down undoing the hard work.

HT CIYMS 10 v Ards 5

Ards received the restart, immediately building good phases, but indiscipline at the breakdown whilst in good field position saw CI take a quick penalty and move the ball well through the hands creating an overlap to score well in the corner. 15-5.

From the restart, fluid passing from replacement scrum half Andy Brown put Ards forwards Torney, English, Gray, Shields & Mitchell through half gaps putting CI under serious strain defensively.

Multiple penalties saw Ards maintain possession in the 22, with again the final pass letting possession slip away.

This did not deter Ards in defence however, with tackles from the Ards forwards keeping CI honest and very much on notice when carrying.

The Ards back three, Ben Thompson, James Stewart & Darragh Kelly did a great job all afternoon returning kicks and tidying up loose possession.

A little bit of niggle crept into the game, with the referee giving a yellow card to a CI forward and Ross Torney for an off the ball incident. The referee reminding both captains of discipline in what had been a competitive game of rugby thus far.

Good build up play from CI from a tap penalty saw them score in the corner. Unconverted. 20-5.

Ards remained determined to play rugby, with McVeigh, Horner, Edgar & English again running hard into the CI defence. After some loose play from both sides, a CI scrum on the Ards 22 saw CI score their final try after multiple phases next to the posts. FT CIYMS 27 v Ards 5

Ards gave 100% effort, fight & heart throughout this game on both sides of the ball, in what was a great performance. Ards gave CI the game due to turnover ball & letting the final pass go astray after multiple phases in attack. It was a much improved performance from the 2nds and the 'score didn't reflect the game' quote most relevant in this game.
Many thanks to CIYMS for a competitive game and to the referee who managed the game well.

Next game for 2nds in this fractured season is on 11th March, away to Larne 2nds.