Ards 3rds welcomed Grosvenor 2nds to Hamilton Park in their final home league game of the season - with a win securing the league title.

Team selection saw what was potentially the youngest selected forward pack in a long time, with players selected between the ages of 18 - 21, there were starts for Ryan Gawley & Hayden Hamilton after stints away at University.

The backline selected saw slightly more experience, with Ross Copeland, Adam Coulter & Chris McClure selected alongside the youth of Ben Ballantine & Joel Clarke. Mike Taylor led the side from out half. Ethan Barrett, Jimmy Gray and Adam McKee, making his first start of the season, looking to make an impact off the bench.

Playing towards Scrabo Tower, Ards started well, putting phases together but good Grosvenor defence kept Ards honest. Ards continued to put phases together, dominant carries from Gawley, Hamilton and Lytle put Ards on the front foot into the Grosvenor 22. Patient phases of play created a mismatch in the backline which saw Mike Taylor take advantage and go through to score, this try was converted by McClure. Ards 7 v Grosvenor 0

The restart saw Grosvenor build some phases, Ards defended well and won turnover ball, however his was shortlived with Grosvenor winning it back, quick hands in the Grosvenor backline saw the Grosvenor winger score a well worked try which went unconverted. Ards 7 v Grosvenor 5

Ards’ response to conceding the try was immediate, carries from Hamilton, Gawley, Torin Ball, Ollie McCormac & Zeki Kaya broke the defensive line with ease allowing the backline to break into the 22, with Coulter and Adam Hughes prominent in the wider channels. The Ards pack got to work in the close exchanges with Noah Miskimmin and Ryan Gawley both going over for scores in quick succession. Ards 17 v Grosvenor 5

With the bench experience of Gray & McKee being utilised, Ards began to spread the ball more after dominant phases up front. Good interplay between McKee, Gray, Coulter and McClure on the blind side set Adam Hughes free who sprinted in from distance, converted by McClure. Half time - Ards 24 v Grosvenor 5

After the break, Ards started where they left off, with Clarke & Taylor directing the team well and the forwards dominating the carries. Ballantine, Hughes & Barratt were becoming more prominent in the backline making ground each time with the ball, good hands from the Ards backs saw Adam Coulter score an unconverted try out wide. Ards 29 v Grosvenor 5
Multiple penalties conceded by Grosvenor resulted in Ards firstly gaining field position, then choosing to scrum, resulting in scrum half Joel Clarke seeing a gap to score a converted try. Ards 36 v Grosvenor 5

Ards were fully in the groove now, with Copeland & Taylor dominant and support lines from Gray, McKee, McCormac & Miskimmin causing havoc for the opposition defence. A Ben Ballantine weaving run set up an Ards penalty from a Grosvenor indiscretion, quick hands on the blindside saw Adam McKee go over for a deserved score. Ards 41 v Grosvenor 5

The final stages of the game saw Ards complete the game in style, with Ben Ballantine scoring & Adam Coulter scoring his second try after good efficient build up play. After a Grosvenor yellow card in the forwards, a mismatch around the ruck saw Zeki Kaya score from close range and in the final play Joel Clarke sniped in for a second score of the afternoon from close range after good forwards play found backs space out wide.

Full time - Ards 3rds 65 v Grosvenor 2nds 5.

This win secured the Ulster Rugby Regional B League (phase 2) title for Ards 3rds. It was full squad performance playing some excellent dominant rugby. The final 3rds fixture is an away fixture on Good Friday 3rd April vs Bangor 3rds at Upritchard Park, 7:30pm KO.