After last weeks win at Ballymena 3rds, Ards 2nds had another away day, this time travelling to The Glynn to face Larne 2nds. Coach Simon Hamilton, despite some absentees from last week, had the luxury of naming another strong team. In the forwards, there were starts for Andrew Foster, Lewis Gordon, Matthew Patton and Lewis English. In the backline, Zac Campbell started at 10, with Ryan Copeland answering an SOS to start at 13. An exciting back three of Josh Baxter, Andy Brown and clubman Michael Taylor earned starts. Neil Horner and Conor McCullough provided impact from the bench this week.

Ards kicked off the game and the opening exchanges saw both teams going through the phases, with the Ards defence not allowing the big Larne forwards any space to move. When Ards got hold of the ball, good forward phases led to Larne being offside, with fly half Campbell converting a penalty from the tee. Larne 0 v Ards 2nds 3.

From the kick off, Larne put some phases together and scored the first try of the game out wide. Unconverted. Larne 5 v Ards 2nds 3.
Ards then began to put phases together, with dominant carries from Foster and Patton setting up centres Barrett and Copeland to get front foot ball breaking the Larne defence. Good play from scrum half Ben Thompson fed Jimmy Gray into space. A high tackle in this play saw Ards convert the penalty. Larne 5 v Ards 2nds 6

Some Ards indiscipline from the resulting kick off saw Larne convert a penalty goal. Larne 8 v Ards 2nds 6.

From a scrum in the Larne 22, the Ards forwards went to work, with consecutive forward drives making Larne concede repeated penalties. Another tap penalty saw Patton, Lewis Gordon and Keir Edgar go close before Andrew Foster burrowed over next to the post. Unconverted. Larne 8 v Ards 2nds 11.

More dominant phases from the kick off saw Ards forwards running into space causing Larne repeated defensive concerns. Horner, Lyttle and Gordon were prominent in the attack. Forward drives from Foster, Edgar and Patton saw quick hands from Campbell who executed a backline move expertly which saw returning No8 Lewis English glide over. Unconverted. Larne 8 v Ards 2nds 16.

Larne again, put phases together putting more hands on the ball. Good defence from Lewis Gordon led to a knock on, which winger Brown picked up and jinked his way towards half way. An offload saw full back Michael Taylor kick ahead into the Larne 22. Pressure from Taylor, Gray and Horner led to the rugby ball pin-balling off several Larne players before Neil Horner picked up and dived over several Larne players to score. Converted. Larne 8 v Ards 2nds 23

A mistake from the restart saw Larne camp themselves in the Ards 22. A tap and go saw the Larne forwards re buffed, but good hands by the Larne backline saw a score out wide after a missed tackle. Converted. Halftime Larne 15 v Ards 2nds 23

Larne started the second half well, indecision from Ards at the kick off led to them having to defend in their 22. Again, the Ards forwards put in the hard yards defensively keeping the Larne big men quiet and forcing Larne to go wide. Josh Baxter, Ryan Copeland tackled well in the wide channel but quick ball saw the Larne winger somehow score in the corner. Unconverted. Larne 20 v Ards 2nds 23

Ards started to get their hands on the ball, with better lineouts, leading to forwards Foster and English running hard into the Larne backline. Good carries from Patton, Copeland and good feet from Baxter and Taylor got Ards into good position just inside the Larne half. A blindside play from Ards saw captain Gray beat defenders and fed No8 English, whose quick hands fed Neil Horner to canter in unopposed for a great team try.Larne 20 v Ards 2nds 30

Larne continued to give Ards problems with their continual direct running, but robust defence and indiscipline from Larne gave Ards opportunity to get in good field positions, good lineout ball saw centres Barrett and Copeland running direct which Larne found hard to combat. Good offloading in the tight from Copeland, Lyttle and Gordon allowed quick hands from Campbell, Taylor and Barrett to feed Josh Baxter who scored out wide for another good team try. Larne 20 v Ards 2nds 35

Good clearance kicking from Zac Campbell and good defensive work from Brown, Barrett, Edgar and Lyttle found Ards with a lineout in the Larne 22. Robust running from No8 English off the lineout led to more good efficient carries from Patton, Edgar and Gordon, quick ball at the ruck saw Foster burrowing over for his second try of the afternoon. Converted. Larne 20 v Ards 2nds 42

Larne rallied and an Ards player was sin binned for a deliberate knock on whilst Larne were attacking wide; several lapses of concentration over the next 10 mins led to Larne scoring 2 converted tries, one through the middle uncharacteristically and a score out wide made the game a little less comfortable for Ards. Larne 34 v Ards 2nds 42

From Larne pressure, a good Ards defensive press and a wayward pass by the Larne fly half saw Zach Campbell intercept from 80m away to score a converted try. Larne 34 v Ards 2nds 49

Larne threw everything to have the final say in the game, they scored a deserved converted try to finish the game. Full time Larne 2nds 41 v Ards 2nds 49

A great performance from the entire Ards squad and a never say die attitude saw Ards get a deserved win. Larne gave Ards problems all afternoon and were stubborn throughout. Thanks to Larne for the game, special mention to the referee who let the game flow for both sides.
The next 2nds game is against Academy 2s away on the 4th November.