On Saturday Ards 2nds travelled to a wet Roughfort to take on their Academy RFC counterparts. From the kick-off Ards put the pressure on right away and maintained most of the possession in the Academy half. Ards attacked well with ball in hand, but Academy were able to exit well when they got the ball. The Ards lineout worked well defensively thanks to an outstanding second row performance by Ollie McCormac who made it very difficult for Academy throughout the match.

The deadlock was broken after an Academy high tackle was punished with a sin bin for an Academy forward, Ards Captain Andrew Foster decided to go for touch from the resulting penalty, with the lineout successful the following phases saw strong carries and patience from the Ards pack which allowed Gareth McBurney to go over for the first score of the day which was expertly converted by Paul Cox. Ards 2nds 7 - 0 Academy.

It became apparent to Academy that when they were awarded penalties the disruption at the lineout from McCormac prevented them to gain any advantage and so any penalty within their goal kickers range was taken, with him successfully goaling two before half time. Half time: Ards 2nds 7 - 6 Academy.

The second half started in much the same vein. Ards gave away another kickable penalty which was duly converted. Ards 2nds 7 - 9 Academy .

Ards decided to match fire with fire and the new boots of Cox were put to good use with Cox converting two penalties later in the half, giving Ards a welcome win on the road, the final score Ards 2nds 13 - 9 Academy.