Ards 2nds 29 v Donaghadee 2nds 5

Last Friday evening Ards 2nds travelled to Donaldson Park for the commencement the second phase of Provincial East 2 fixtures hoping to repeat their home win against Donaghadee 2nds in Phase 1. The weather was set fair, on a cold night but heavy pitch.

Following a week of good training and with healthy numbers to select from this week, 2nds coach Simon Hamilton had a strong squad named for this game. In the forwards, Aaron Bittles and Reuben O'Rorke earned starts this week, Ross Copeland returned from injury and Ross Torney was available to play. The backline saw Ethan Barrett move to scrum half, Matthew Warnock and Aaron May starting in the centres with an exciting back three of Josh Baxter, Ben McCreedy and the returning Conor Upritchard earning starts. Lewis Gordon, Matthew Patton and Ryan Copeland providing impact from the bench this week.

Ards kicked off, immediately going to work defensively repelling the Dee forward drives. Early lineout drives, directed by Ross Copeland & Michael Lyttle drew repeated penalties which put Ards into the Dee half. Ards began to look threatening with ball in hand, with forward drives from Bailey Young, David Chivers, captain Jimmy Gray and Torney making dents in the opposition defence. With fly half Alex Gaw directing the team well and getting the ball into the midfield, were Warnock & May looked threatening ball in hand.

From a lineout in the Dee 22, the Ards pack made good ground with a rolling maul. Repeated phases and then good hands from Bittles & Torney fed David Chivers who scored next to the posts. Converted by Gaw. Donaghadee 0 v Ards 2nds 7

Some indiscipline from Ards saw Donaghadee maintain field position in the Ards half. However a good defensive set, with Lyttle, O’Rorke, Warnock & Gaw prominent repelled the Dee attack. More direct running from Young & Warnock led to quick ball for the backline, with Gaw & May releasing Upritchard & Baxter in the wider channels causing Donaghadee problems in the backfield. From an Ards scrum in the Dee half, a quick pass from Barratt to Gaw, saw Gaw fool the Dee defensive line and run in under the posts from the 22, the conversion was missed. Donaghadee 0 v Ards 2nds 12

From the kick off, some indiscipline from Ards saw Donaghadee gain good field position. A steal at the lineout followed by some dominant forward carries saw Ards get out of danger. However, an Ards backline move saw a loose pass, which was capitalised by Dee to run in a score in the corner. Unconverted. Donaghadee 5 v Ards 2nds 12

Ards immediately went to work, claiming the kick off and putting a few phases together. The running lines of Warnock & May were causing Dee real concerns, but a lack of composure prevented Ards from getting another score.

Another slick backline move saw Warnock, McCreedy, Upritchard & May getting close to the try line, with quick ball available winger Josh Baxter burrowed over to score. Unconverted. Donaghadee 5 v Ards 2nds 17

There was more Ards dominance from the running of May, Upritchard & McCreedy and support in the loose from Gray, Lyttle & Chivers. A series of pick and goes from a lineout penalty saw Matthew Patton have a try disallowed for a double movement. Ards spurned several other opportunities to score towards the end of the half. Half time - Donaghadee 5 v Ards 2nds 17

The start of the second half saw the game play between the 22's with neither team able to string multiple phases together from indiscipline and the referees interpretation of the breakdown. The Ards forwards were gaining the upper hand, the lineout was running well with Ross Copeland & Lyttle dominant and Patton, Lewis Gordon & Ryan Copeland making good field position through their strong caries. From a quick ruck ball, Ryan Copeland beat 3 defenders running direct to stroll in from 30metres out. Unconverted. Donaghadee 5 v Ards 2nds 22

Donaghadee tried in earnest to put more pressure on the scoreboard, but solid defensive efforts from Ards with Lyttle, Chivers, Warnock, Barrett & Lewis Gordon kept the Dee at bay.

More Ards pressure saw Aaron May, Bailey Young & Ryan Copeland go close after some barbarian esque play near the Dee line. An Ards indiscretion on the Dee line saw an Ards player yellow carded for 10 mins.

Even with 14 players, Ards continued to press the Donaghadee line, good dominant carries saw a huge overlap appear which Ards made the most of and Josh Baxter went over out wide for his second try. Converted by fly half Gaw. Donaghadee 5 v Ards 2nds 29.

This was a solid performance from Ards 2nds to start off the second round of fixtures. A full team effort from 1-18 saw the game out, which pleased Coach Simon Hamilton going forward to more regular fixtures.

Next fixture for the 2nd XV is this Saturday 13th, with Ballymena 3rd XV visiting Hamilton Park with a 2:30pm kick off. All support welcome.