Last Friday evening saw Ards 3rds travel to Deramore Park to take on Belfast Harlequins 3rds in round 2 of the McCambley Cup.

Ards had a full complement with a squad of 18, after their emphatic win in the first round away to Ballyshannon which saw the 15 players return triumphant.

Team selection saw some unavailability, however this was equally matched with the experience of those available. In the forwards Torin Ball, Davy Reid, Ollie McCormac started the backline saw Mark Banford at 9, Michael Taylor at 10 with a strong centre pairing of Matt Walker & Adam Barnes and a back three of Chris McClure, Adam Hughes & Matthew McFarland looking to be unleashed. Gary Dempsey, John Dowey & Gareth McBurney providing more than enough experience from the bench this week.

Early exchanges saw both teams get a foothold in the game, with both forward packs going toe to toe. Ards providing dominant carries through Davy Thompson, Ball and Gary Presho with pressure from the Quins heavy forward pack repelling any progress. Quins used their experienced out half to find territory with probing kicks. Quins possession was well matched defensively from Ball, Gray and Horner with McCormac and Walker providing continuous turnover threat. From an Ards penalty, Quins converted a penalty. Quins 3rds 3 - 0 Ards 3rds.

From the restart, Ards began to go through the phases and began to find field position. With the lineout functioning well through McCormac and Peter Scott, Ards started playing in the right areas of the pitch. Only rustiness and unforced errors allowing Quins to clear. Quins were beginning to put serious pressure on Ards at the ruck, using their big men to disrupt. From a tap & go penalty, Ards found themselves back in the Quins half, strong carries from Thompson, Reid & Walker provided quick ball allowing Banford to skip through the line to score a try duly converted by McClure. Quins 3rds 3 - 7 Ards 3rds.

Ards found themselves digging deep in the defensive trenches from the restart with Quins beginning to utilise their backline trying to find wider channels and causing Ards problems. Barnes, Walker & Hughes in the backs and captain Thompson, Scott, Gray & Ball in the forwards all contributed defensively, securing turnover ball in the chaos of the breakdowns. Ards then began to find the wider channels themselves, with Barnes, Hughes & McFarland getting more in the game. From a penalty, a dominant maul set up at lineout saw Ards camped in the Quins 22. Quality ball saw scrum half Banford kick cross field to captain Thompson who picked up and scored in the corner, the difficult conversion was missed. Half time - Quins 3rds 3 - 12 Ards 3rds.

From the restart, an untidy Ards exit saw Quins apply pressure through their forward pack, which was met well by the Ards defence. A high tackle penalty saw Quins kick a routine penalty. Quins 3rds 6 - 12 Ards 3rds.

Ards slowly began to settle themselves into the second half through dominant carries from McBurney, Ball, Scott & Barnes. Efficient ruck clear outs from the Ards forwards saw quick ball and tactical kicks put into space by scrum half Banford putting Ards on the front foot. From a messy Quins line out, Ards tidied up well and more forward carries saw Ards camp themselves in the opposition 22. Banford and out half Taylor were directing the Ards attack with precision, the forwards were making hard yards with quick rucks allowing the backline to utilise an overlap which saw winger Adam Hughes beat defenders to score an unconverted try in the corner. Quins 3rds 6 - 17 Ards 3rds.

Ards were finally edging the contact at the breakdown, winning turnovers with Walker a constant thorn in the Quins side and more efficient clear outs from the whole Ards team in and around the rucks providing a more stable platform. From another foray into the Quins 22, carries from Dowey, McBurney & McFarland saw Ball in an acre of space to cross the tryline for a try, converted by McClure. Quins 3rds 6 - 24 Ards 3rds.

Quins, to their credit keep battling away. A mistake from the kick off saw Quins gain field position and a quick show & go from the Quins scrum half saw him score under the posts. The conversion was impressively charged down by Ards. Quins 3rds 11 - 24 Ards 3rds.

With the breakdown continuing to be a hotly contested and a sometimes messy area, Ards began to find field position pinning Quins in their own 22. The Ards forwards were beginning to dominate the close exchanges, with Ards being held up on a number of occasions. An Ards penalty right in front of the posts saw McClure slot over a simple penalty and secure the win. Full time score Quins 3rds 11 - 27 Ards 3rds.

Ards Rugby Club

Belfast Harlequins RFC

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