Last Saturday Ards 3rds travelled to Newforge to play PSNI 2nd XV looking to continue their winning streak in Regional East B. There were starts for Ollie McCormac, Hasan Kaymak, David Calvert and the returning Bailey Young. In the backline, Chris McClure started at 10 with Tom Dolaghan forming a strong centre partnership with Ryan Copeland. Darragh Kelly joined Tim Gouk and Kris Burgess in a dangerous back three. David Chivers, Dave Wickens and Adam Coulter providing impact from the bench this week.

With PSNI opting for ‘Game On’ with uncontested scrums from the start. Ards kicked off and immediately put PSNI under pressure. Ards got their hands on the ball early, with Young, Colin McClure and Calvert prominent. A blindside play in the 22 saw Kelly cross in the corner after good work from Copeland and Chris McClure. 0-5.

Ards' quick start to the game continued, with good defence repelling any PSNI progress. Front foot ball and good forward drives saw Ards go into the 22 with ease. A huge gap in the PSNI defence saw Chris McClure score beating the covering defence. Converted by Young. 0-12.

Good work from the kick off saw captain Jimmy Gray and Young combine to make ground an offload saw Gray beat multiple players and stride downfield, Gray offloaded to Dolaghan who ran in uncontested for another Ards score. Converted. 0-19.

The PSNI restart did not go 10m, from the scrum simple hands in the backline saw Dolaghan go through for his second score. 0-24.

With Ards thinking the game was in their hands, PSNI gave them a rude awakening scoring 2 quick tries out wide, utilising the indecision in the Ards defensive line and using pace out wide to score. 12-24.

With PSNI utilising the ball well in attack, Ards indiscipline let PSNI build phases and utilising their quick outside backs to beat the covering Ards defence to score again. 17-24.

Another mistake from the restart saw the PSNI 10 score. 22-24.

A good restart take from Kelly saw Ards build phases in the PSNI half. Back to back penalties and Ards forward dominance in the tight exchanges saw Calvert score after long series of pick and drives. Converted. 22-31

Some indiscipline led to a PSNI scrum, which saw their No8 score. Converted. 29-31.

That would be the last points that PSNI scored with Ards playing a more direct structured approach in the second half - Chivers, Wickens, Calvert and Zeki Kaya prominent, with support lines from captain Gray, Young and the centre partnership of Copeland and Dolaghan providing the stepping stone throughout. Good build up play from Ards in the PSNI 22 led to a trademark snipe and converted score from Joel Clarke. 38-29

Not long after, quick thinking at a lineout from Ollie McCormac saw him go close. Quick ball from Clarke saw a strong running line from Dolaghan who went in untouched for his hat trick. Converted. 45-29.

Good defence throughout the second half from Ards limited opportunities for the opposition, with the last 15 minutes seeing a converted score from Zeki Kaya after good forward play, an intercept from Hasan Kaymak after PSNI tried to run from deep. 52-29

In the final play, good support lines in the lead up saw Zeki Kaya score his second converted score to finish.