Ards 2nds returned to league action this week, with a rearranged fixture against their Lurgan counterparts. Following an early pitch inspection, the Hamilton Park surface was good to go, for what would be a competitive fixture.
Team selection saw Simon Hamilton select a strong and settled line up from recent fixtures. In the forwards Bailey Young, Ross Torney & Caleb Lowe earned starts. In the backline, the half back partnership of Ben Thompson & Ethan Barratt continued as did the centre partnership of Oren Kisby & Matthew Warnock. A threatening back three of Shankey, Barnes & Conor Upritchard looking to utilise the wider channels. Ryan Copeland, Reuben O’Rorke & Evan McClean providing impacts this week.

Ards kicked off towards the Comber Road, having to work early on repelling Lurgan's big ball carriers. Both teams were on the receiving end of the referees whistle early on, trying to find a foothold in the game. From a Lurgan misdemeanour, Ards kicked for territory into the Lurgan half. Good lineout ball fed Caleb Lowe, who set up an Ards maul which resulted in another penalty. From another maul, the Ards ball carriers went to work with Gareth McBurney, Mathew Patton, Torney & Kisby prominent in the tight exchanges. The pressure paid off with McBurney burrowing over taking defenders with him in the process. This was converted by prop Bailey Young. Ards 2nds 7 v Lurgan 2nds 0
Lurgan slowly began to find their way into the game, their big forwards were repelled again by good Ards defence with Lewis Gordon, skipper Jimmy Gray, Neil Horner, Patton and Warnock keeping Lurgan in check. Smart kicking from the Lurgan 12 pinned Ards in their own half, with Lurgan trying to utilise their backline but good cover defence from Warnock, Shankey and Upritchard kept Lurgan honest. From a Lurgan lineout, a cross field kick found it way to the winger who utilised the soft ground well to pick up and score a converted try. Ards 2nds v Lurgan 2nds 7
Ards found themselves in the Lurgan half following good pressure from the kick off. Repeated penalties found Ards in the Lurgan red zone, however this didn’t yield any results due to good Lurgan defence and Ards not keeping possession. Lurgan cleared their lines well and found themselves making inroads into the Ards half. An offside infringement from Ards saw Lurgan convert a penalty. Ards 2nds 7 v Lurgan 2nds 10.
From the restart Ards put a number of phases together forcing Lurgan to concede a penalty, the shot at goal narrowly missed to finish the half.

Half time: Ards 2nds 7 v Lurgan 2nds 10

With Ards not fully clicking into gear yet after good territorial dominance the halftime break saw coach Hamilton & captain Gray bring a degree of calmness & focus to the Ards squad. Receiving the kick off Ards immediately went to work, with fly half Barratt directing the team well with only a lack of communication stopping Ards in their tracks. A solid platform from the lineout allowed McBurney, Kisby, Warnock & Ryan Copeland to run from depth, causing the Lurgan defence to scramble. This lead to multiple Lurgan penalties, which eventually saw a Lurgan player in the sin bin after persistent infringements. This allowed Ards to play more in space with Barnes, Upritchard & Shankey getting more into the game. From an Ards scrum, several tight carries from Gordon, Copeland, Torney & Gray saw Kisby go over for Ards second try of the afternoon, this was converted by Young. Ards 2nds 14 v Lurgan 2nds 10.
Lurgan were by no means out of this game, a turnover in the Lurgan 22 following a good passage of play by Ards saw the Lurgan full back beating multiple defenders making good ground before putting the ball through several sets of hands finding the Lurgan hooker on the wing who scored an unconverted Lurgan try after great build up play. Ards 2nds 14 v Lurgan 2nds 15.

Determined to regain the lead Ards immediately went to work, from a scrum, good hands found Shankey out wide who made good ground, good recycling saw Ards position themselves well, but their execution at the crucial moment prevented a score with Lurgan clearing their lines. A messy lineout from Lurgan saw the Lurgan out half kick out on the full after good Ards defensive pressure. Another barnstorming run from McBurney, followed up by Kisby, Gordon & Torney with equally effective clear outs providing quick ruck ball allowing Matthew Patton to crash over from 5mtr out, the conversion by Young was good, giving Ards 2nds a well earned victory.

Final score: Ards 2nds 21 v Lurgan 2nds 15.

A never say die attitude won Ards the game, showing lots of promise throughout in attack and a thoroughly better defensive effort than in previous weeks against a good Lurgan side. Many thanks to Lurgan for a tough, physical game. Many thanks to the referee for a consistent approach throughout to both teams. Next game for the 2nds is on the 24th February, when Lisburn 2nds visit Hamilton Park with an early 12:30pm kick off.