Ards welcomed last season's unbeaten Ulster Qualifying League Champions Instonians to Hamilton Park on Saturday in the opening league match of the 2015/16 season. A large crowd gathered in anticipation of seeing how new Head Coach Dave Irwin's squad would compete at this level and they were not disappointed, despite losing the match Ards dominated most facets of play and played good rugby.

Even prior to this match several players showed their commitment to the cause with new 1st XV Captain Mark Banford delaying his stag weekend to play in this match, along with stag attendees Stewart Paul and Scott Young.

Ards kicked off playing towards Strangford Lough and in the opening showed their intent keeping the ball in hand and forwards and backs linking well.

Ards had an early opportunity to take opening the scoring when Insts were penalised for being offside, Ards scrum half and captain Mark Banford's penalty attempt went just wide.

In the 13th minute and in Insts first real excursion into the Ards half, Ards were penalised at a ruck and the Insts out half was successful with his penalty attempt. Ards 0 v Insts 3

From the kick off, great pressure by the Ards forwards saw Insts concede another penalty his time for not staying on their feet, Banford again pushed his penalty attempt wide.

In the 19th minute Ards scored a well deserved try though centre Epi Ratu this followed a period of sustained pressure by Ards which saw the ball moved well down the Ards back line to winger Chris McClure who made good yards and recycled the ball well, for Insts to then concede a penalty in their own 22 which Ards took quickly only for flanker Danny Patton to be held up over the Insts line, the resulting scrum saw the Ards pack dominate and create the platform for a back-line attack which saw Ratu crash over, the try was converted by Banford. Ards 7 v Insts 3

In the 23rd minute Ards out half Stewart Paul scored a try far out after retrieving his own kick through following a great up and under by Banford which Ards winger and 18yr old debutant Nathan Graham chased up and put in a superb tackle on the Insts full back creating turn over ball which the supporting Paul kicked through, the conversion was missed by Banford. Ards 12 v Insts 3

In the 27th minute Ards winger Graham was again making a name for himself amongst the Ards support when he scored and converted his own try following a solid Ards scrum on the halfway line which saw the back-line attack for Graham to finish off out wide. Ards 19 v Insts 3
The opening 30 minutes saw Ards play almost perfect rugby and perhaps Insts were probably a little shell shocked, but Insts responded well and showed why they were last season's league winners and played to their strengths by tightening the game up, kicking to the corners and forcing Ards to concede penalties around the fringes, this resulted in Insts scoring a converted try in the 35th minute and an unconverted try in the last play of the first half. Half time: Ards 19 v Insts 15

Ards made no changes at half time but were forced to into a change in the 50th minute when Vice Captain and prop Andrew Foster went off injured, he was replaced by debutant and last season's Ards U18 prop Ben Orr who was immediately called into scrum action and showed he was more than capable of holding own at this level.
Insts made it a one point game when their out half converted a penalty following an Ards misdemeanor in the 52nd minute. Ards 19 v Insts 18

In the 60th minute Ards scored their fourth try of the game, when after being awarded a penalty they placed confidence in their scrum, rather than kicking for the posts or to touch. From resulting scrum Ards the Ards back-line attacked and full back David Armstrong hit the line to finish off out wide, Graham converted. Ards 26 v Insts 18
Ards replaced full back David Armstrong with his brother Neil Armstrong in the 65th minute. Much like the first half Insts again showed their grit and in the final 10 minutes of the half and in the 71st minute the Insts scrum half forced his way over the Ards line after picking up from the base of a scrum, the conversion was missed. Ards 26 v Insts 23

Ards made a fundamental mistake from the resulting kick off when they kicked the ball dead allowing for an it's scrum on the halfway line, from this scrum Insts played tight rugby and again force Ards to concede penalties resulting in Ards second row Bale Tabaiwalu being sin binned for failing to not retreating 10mtrs. In the 76th minute and from a penalty the Insts second row forced his way over the Ards line for a converted try. Ards 26 v Insts 30.
Final score: Ards 26 v Insts 30

Whilst pleased with the performance and the 2 points earned from this match (4 tries scored and losing bonus point), Ards view this as points lost given the position they had placed themselves in during the game. Much will be learnt by the players about decision making and closing out a game, perhaps the trials and tribulations of recent seasons affected Ards' ability to do this...but one think is certain this result will make other teams think twice about playing Ards this season.

Ards squad: A Foster, C Stewart, Co McClure, J Harris, B Tabaiwalu, D Patton, O Burekama, M Creighton, M Banford (c), S Paul, Ch McClure, S Young, E Ratu, N Graham, D Armstrong, B Orr, N Armstrong