Ards 2nds played their first match in over a month on Saturday when they hosted Virginia in a Conference game at Hamilton Park.
Playing towards Strangford Lough in the first half with the sun and wind on their backs Ards intended to use these elements early on and put Virginia under some pressure. However, it was Virginia who scored the first points of the game when their fullback converted a penalty in the 5th minute after Ards were penalised for coming in from the side.
Ards replied within 5minutes when full back Stephen Robinson went over in the right hand corner after some good work by centres Andy Todd and John Quigg; Robinson missed the conversion.
The first half was somewhat a scrappy affair with alot of stopping and starting due to penalties and scrums.
Ards had the upper hand in the scrum and the front five of Daniel Whitla, Conran Stewart, Ashley Paden, Matthew Hunter and Gareth McBurney were rewarded for their endeavours after 30minutes when hooker Stewart took a scrum against the head and the pack drove towards the Virginian line, scrum half Stephen McKee picked up and Ards scored a deserved try under the posts which Robinson converted.
The last play of the half saw centre Todd break the Virgina defensive line by fending off a couple of would be Virginia tacklers and then draw the last man to unselfishly put his fellow centre John Quigg (returning after injury) away to score under the posts; Robinson converted the try.
Half time: Ards 24 – Virginia
At half time by team manager Gareth Paden advised his team not to get complacent and to continue to play through their patterns and that this game was not yet over.
Playing towards Scrabo Tower and against the elements Ards did not adhere to their instructions and tried to play an expansive game; Virginia managed to stop these Ards attacks and slow the game up and thus frustrate the Ards team.
Captain David Chivers and experienced centre Todd then started to take control by leading the way and running the hard lines close to the break downs and tightening up the Ards game.
Midway through the second half centre Quigg scored his second try of the game when he scored a try to the right of the posts which started in the Ards half after good work by number 8 Adam McKee at the break down; this try was converted by full back Robinson.
The remainder of the game continued to be a scrappy affair but Ards always seemed under control. The scrum and line out performed well all day; hooker Stewart showed promise with his throwing and combative style about the park.
It was good to see Chris Marks in the back row and centre John Quigg returning after lengthy times out with injury, this gave the team a much needed boost.
Finally credit and thanks to Virginia who travelled some 100 miles from County Cavan to play in this conference league game; in the past teams have chosen not to travel such distances in a non league or cup game.
Final score: Ards 31 v Virginia 3