Looking for their first their first league win of the season The Black Knights entertained a young Bangor 3rds side at a sun kissed Hamilton Park.The Bangor team had a few familiar faces, notably former Ards players, Sereli McGoon, Stevie Cullen ,last years under 19 captain Matt Duffy and the ever vocal American ,Daniel “Ducky “ NcNally . Ards were sad to see so many of their former comrades in the bangor jersey (with the exception of Ducky who we were delighted to see the back off.....shame he couldn’t have transferred to a different planet instead of a different club, as his contstant rantings threatened to detract from a keenly contested encounter)
Straight from the kick off Ards stormed into action. Captain Rab Irwin gathered the ball and , after committing the bangor pack, fed Phil Gill on the burst. Running like Jimmy Saville at the sound of the school home bell he covered 40 yards before a bangor player could lay a hand on him. In fact A young ards spectator was heard to tell his father later that he had never seen an “ old man “ run so fast. (Needless to say it was the last time Gill was seen in the match).From the resultant ruck scrum half matchett hit full back cyril stocker at full pelt and he dived over the line to score. Unfortunately the conversion was missed leaving ards 5 nil up after a minutes play.
Once again the Ards onslaught contained from the kick off with the forwards and backs linking for some great rugby and they were soon camped again on the Bangor try line .From a quick ruck the ball was swiftly relayed alone the backline allowing veteran centre Graham Copeland, playing his first game for the Black Knights in 5 years, to crash in near the posts. Winger Nial Mullholland, who had a great all round game in only his second game of rugby , converted leaving the score 12 nil to Ards.
Ards domination continued , particularly in the forwards , where openside Stevie “McCaw”Bell was in the thick of the action ably assisted by the veteran Nigel Lynch (also playing his first game of the season). From a lineout won by Lynch on the bangor 22 , ards mauled the ball to the Bangor try line to allow prop Gary Dempsey to fall over and score. 17 nil ards after only 20 mins.
Unfortunately complacency set into the ards team and the youth of the bangor team was beginning to show as they upped their commitment in defence. This resulted in neither side threatening each others try line in the half.
Following a rousing half time team talk by Captain Irwin, Ards sprung back into life and attacked the Bangor try line with renewed impetus . Following a neat blindside back row move scrum half Matchett put Cyril Stocker away under the post for a well worked try converted by Mullholland to put the score 24 nil to Ards.
Ards totally took their foot off the gas now and the game petered out in the last 30 minutes to effectively a lot of mud wrestling on the halfway line. The only lively thing in the last 30 mins was the ards/bangor equivalent (with added punches) of the Obama/ Romney debate , courtesy of renowned bangor pacifist sereli mcgoon and our very own julian “judas punch “ patton.
His ears bludgeoned to death by the constant prattling of Ducky the ref decided enough was enough and relievedly blew time on the match for an emphatic ards victory.
The Ards team trudged off knowing they could and should have scored more points. However If Ards can translate the first 20 minutes play into a full 80 minutes performance they can look forward to a successful season.
The Bangor team headed home with the sound of Ducky still ringing in their ears and their management desperately on the phone trying to offload the useless wind bag to Holywood.