This weekend 14 players from the senior panel were unavailable due to injury so both the Club President and 2nd XCV manager stepped up and answered the call to play.
On a positive note hooker Matt Busby returned to full match action after a back injury which has kept him out for 6 weeks.

The 2nds were defeated 41-5 but like many matches this season the team competed well all game and the score was not a true reflection of the game.

The heavier Rainey pack were dominate in the scrum, however the Ards lineout performed well all game with second rows Matt Hunter and Gary Presho stealing several Rainey lineouts; competition at the breakdown was keenly contested and the back row of Darren Heron, Michael Higginson and Darren Kelly more than stepped up to the mark.

The return of Heron and Higginson along with the aforementioned Presho and Paden added much needed experience which has maybe been lacking thus far this season.

Possession wise Ards had their fair share but the inability to capitalise from line breaks or turn over ball was to prove the team’s nemesis.

Centres Andrew Hassard and Oren Kisby tackled and carried ball well all day and were unfortunate on several occasions being adjudged to pass forward in the offload when releasing the supporting player.

A purple patch of 5 minutes in the second half saw Rainey run in 3 converted tries; making the game all but over for Ards.

To Ards’ credit they kept competing; even after losing scrum half Kyle Agnew with a hamstring injury; these endeavours were rewarded when winger Steven McKee who had moved to scrum half after Agnew’s injury, stole ball from Rainey after good work by Presho and Higginson to score a try in corner, the conversion was missed.

This week Ards 2nds travel to Dungannon to face Dungannon 2nds in a 2nd XV league game. All players are reminded training continues on Monday and Wednesday evenings at 7pm.

Ards 2nds:
G Paden, M Busby, D Whitla, G Presho, M Hunter, M Higginson, D Heron, D Kelly, K Agnew, N Armstrong, G Dougan, O Kisby, A Hassard, S McKee, G Wilson.