Getting a 1st XV squad and a 2nd XV out to travel to Armagh on the last Saturday of August gave team managers Robin Johnston and Gareth Paden abit off a headache; players were not available for arious reasons, last weekend of holidays, injury and the small matter of Ireland playing England in Dublin.

That all said and done 2 Ards teams were fielded against a Armagh club bouyant from their success of the previous season.

Ards 2nds were defeated 38 - 3, Armagh desrved to win this game and were certainly made to work for their win.

In the first half the smaller Ards pack more than matched their bigger counterparts in the contact area, however it was at the set piece were Ards struggled, the lineout and scrum failed to produce enough quality go forward ball for a back line which looked more than a match for the opposition.

No.8 Mathieu Wilson and scrum half Kyle Agnew did well to make gain line breaks coming off the back foot.

The highlight for Ards in the first half was a bone crushing tackle on the big Armagh 2nd row by team manager Gareth 'Pudsey' Paden; it is still to be decided whether Pudsey meant this tackle or whther he was still getting up from the previous ruck and collided with the opposition.

Half time: Ards 3 - Armagh 17

In the second half Ards dominated large periods of the game however a combination of poor decision making, conceding needless penalties and the highlighted inability to give the back line quality ball proved to be the down fall.

It didn't help when Ards were reduced to 14 players after full back Gareth Wilson was sin binned for a professional foul.

Ards battled well and fought to the final whistle; however Armagh stretched their lead by capitalising on the aforementioned Ards mistakes.

Full time: Ards 3 - Armagh 38

Coach's comment: It was evident from this game that although we have good player numbers at Ards; it is important that we have all senior teams training on Monday and Wednesday nights; learning set plays and getting to know each other; this will enable the individual player and us as a club to reach our potentials.