November can be a challenging month for rugby teams, the Autumn internationals can prove to be a distraction, the winter conditions on the pitches force teams to adapt playing styles and injuries can test the depth of squads so it is very easy to slip of the pace and drop out of contention.
 
Ards 3rds Captain David Thompson has seen it all before and is determined to avoid such distractions and keep the Black Knights’ season on track well into 2022. The Knights built squad depth last Saturday by introducing Callum O’Hanlon and Darragh Kelly for their debuts along with the return of Aaron Bittles providing youthful energy to complement the senior players in the team.
 
Ards took control from the whistle with the front row of Dempsey, Reid and Millar all contributing in the loose, carrying hard to get Ards on the front foot. The lineout was a good contest with Presho and Cullen launching Matty McFarland to nullify the threat from Donaghadee legend Brian McCracken.
 
With regular possession, Ards halfbacks Cardwell and Cox played for territory and after a series of strong attacks Cox played a lovely crossfield kick into O’Hanlon’s path and the lower Ards man dealt with it superbly to gather and score.
 
Hooker Davy Reid loves the winter conditions and he added to the Ards total with a try wide on the right, Ards were favouring the scoreboard corner and Kisby benefitted after attacking the blindside from close range to open his account for the day.
 
Nathan Graham started at fullback on Saturday and reminded everyone what a potent attacking weapon he is with a powerful burst to take him clear of the Dee defence. Cox, having found his range added a second difficult conversion from wide on the right to take Ards to a 24 point lead.
 
Donaghadee had their best spell at this stage with Monson heavily involved, they scored a great team try to close to 24-7 and sting the homeside into a reaction. Flanker Ryan Mills had a strong opening thirty minutes for Ards, but his all action display inevitably led to him taking a stinger and he made way for Aaron Bittles who had an instant impact.
 
Young Bittles first played for the Knights as a front rower but from the flank he showed impressive pace and ball carrying skills as he made an excellent break linking with Darragh Kelly. The Kircubbin flyer finished with aplomb taking the half time score to 29-7.

The second half saw Ards playing towards Scrabo and into the strong wind. Coach Davy Armstrong living up to his legendary nickname (DA) reshuffling the team to introduce Ashley Peden into the front row, moving Kisby into the back row and Ben Thompson slotting onto the wing, all these changes changes paid off as Ards dominated the second period.
 
Skipper David Thompson set the tone with a barnstorming carry to score followed by Kisby getting his brace. As is his way, Matty McFarland covered every blade of grass yet again and he got the try his performance deserved to take Ards to the half century mark. Ards centre Scott Young had spent much of the afternoon mentoring some of his younger teammates and he slotted into outhalf for the final spell to unsettle the Dee defence and allow Cox a run at 13.
 
This rejig led to a final special try with Cardwell linking with Young who cut back around the base of the scrum to switch with Cox. The defence were caught off guard and Cox used his instincts to exploit the gap, he then hit the open field and his huge stride took him clear of the covering defence to stretch away and dot down. Cox converted his own superb try and took Ards to the final score of 57-7 maintaining the Black knights 100% start to the season and in a very strong position at the top of the Eastern conference in the Regional League.