Last Friday ‘Friday Night Lights’ returned in style to Hamilton Park when Ards 3rds hosted their Bangor counterparts in a North Down derby match. Ards took to the field with a scintillating blend of youth and experience with youngsters Torin Ball, Ben Ballantine & James Patton combining with Ards legends Gary Presho, Davy Thompson, Davy Reid and a rare but welcome appearance from Mark Banford.
After a competitive first 10 mins Ards opened the scoring with Jimmy Gray running a trademark support line to score under the posts, the evergreen Paul Cox converting. A second soon followed from Adam Coulter demonstrating an excellent turn of pace.

A lapse in concentration and poor midfield defence gifted Bangor breakaway try to narrow the gap temporarily. However, Aaron Bittles soon thundered over the line next for the first of his two tries in an excellent personal performance. Some superb carries from Matthew Patton and Thompson led to further tries from Banford, Presho, Michael Taylor and a Coulter second. The Copeland brothers were unleashed from the bench with Ryan getting into the action immediately with some physical carries. Half-time - Ards 3rds 45 v Bangor 3rds 7

Ards picked up in the second half with renewed energy and thirst for tries with Peter Scott imperious in the lineout, Chris McClure running the midfield, Torin Ball's tackle count ever rising and James Patton bossing the breakdown. Adam Hughes scoring the first of his tries with a superb team try with the final selfless pass from Ben Ballantine, the second scorching down the wing to score in the corner. Bittles crashed over again, Presho, rolling back the years, then scored a virtuoso effort.

The final tries were added by Ross Copeland, Banford and Gray who rounded off a great performance dropping a goal to convert his try. Final score 79-19

Ards 3rds remain unbeaten and look forward to the tough challenge away to Holywood 2nds on Saturday.