Last Saturday Ards 2nds travelled to Glynn to take on their Larne counterparts. From the kickoff there was a 20 minute slug fest where hard carries were met with harder tackles. Great defensive efforts from David Calvert, Torin Ball & Noah Miskimmin kept Larne at bay whilst hard carries from Ross Torney, Danny McCullough & captain Andrew Foster were met with equal force from Larne’s experienced defence.

The deadlock was finally broken by some smart backs play by outhalf Paul Cox, realising space was open out wide played the ball through the backline to Jack Smith who outpaced his counterpart and dotted the ball down between the sticks. Cox added the conversion to make it 0-7.
A poor take at the restart saw Ards immediately under pressure and a few minutes later, Larne broke round the edge of a ruck inside the Ards 22 and had a clear run to the posts. Larne converted making it 7-7.

Ards got straight back on the attack from kick off with a hard chase, pressuring Larne deep inside their own half. Larne's clearance was received by Mason McFarland, who took off up the pitch supported by Smith. Hard carries from Nathan Bell & Colin McLure moved Ards closer to the Larne 22 before the ball moved wide through the backs and Mark McLean was brought down 10m short of the white wash. Ards kept it tight with hard carries from the pack, with Foster eventually scoring, Cox added the extras. making the half time score; Ards 2nds 14 - 7 Larne 2nds.

The second half began with equal physicality shown in the first half, with Larne making a quick break up the line and scoring a converted try beneath the posts, making it all square at 14-14.

Ards set about their work again with pressure on Larne’s kick receiver from Mike Lytle & Zeki Kaya. Larne’s exit was caught by Smith on half way, who charged back through some holes in the Larne defence. Sustained attack from Ards followed, with Adam Barnes breaking the line and scoring Ards’ third try, the conversion drifted wide. The score now Ards 2nds 19 v 14 Larne 2nds.

Another poorly received restart saw Ards back under pressure, but good defensive work, a steal at the ruck from Torney and a good clearance kick from Cox kept Larne at bay. Through a strong carry from Carter Johnston, scrum half Joel Clarke released the backs who got on the attack with Adam Coulter taking Ards deep into the Larne half before a lapse in concentration saw the ball turned over and back in Larne hands. Smith took the clearance kick on half way and, with some smart footwork, ran through the Larne defensive line and secure the bonus point, Cox added the conversion - Now, Ards 2nds 26 - 14 Larne 2nds.

The final minutes saw the physicality of the game increase, with the Ards defence holding strong against a relentless red wave of pressure.
Final score - Ards 2nds 26 - 14 Larne 2nds.

Thank you to Larne for this well contested game and their hospitality at the Glynn.