An Ards RFC Senior squad of 25 players travelled to Uprichard Park, Bangor on Saturday for the first of three warm up games prior to this seasons Ulster Senior League and All Ireland League campaigns.

Ards Senior debuts were given to new recruits Max Porter, Bruce Duff, Robert Norwood, Josh McKee, Jack Matthews and Chris Busby.

The game was played in glorious sunshine and in the format of 4 x 20 minute sessions.

After 5minutes Ards were awarded a kickable penalty but they opted for to kick deep into the Bangor for an attacking lineout, unfortunately this kick was overcooked and ball went dead.
From the resulting 22 drop out Bangor kicked deep and won a penalty when Ards were penalised for not rolling away in the tackle, the Bangor outhalf converted well. Bangor 3 v Ards 0

After 12 minutes Michael Lawton was in support to side-step his way over the Bangor line after great interplay by the Ards pack with second rows Gareth McBurney and Davy Calvert combining well with the back row of Max Harrison, Adam McKee and Max Porter with strong drives and great offloads, Lawton converted his try. Bangor 3 v Ards 7

Bangor ended the first quarter ahead when they attacked in numbers down the Ards blindside and outflanked the Ards defence for the Bangor openside to score under the posts, this try was converted. Bangor 10 v Ards 7

The second quarter was an evenly contested affair, with both sides converting penalties, the Bangor outhalf converted for Bangor and Lawton converted for Ards. Local derbies are feisty affairs and this was evident when a Bangor player dump tackled Ards prop Andy Foster on his neck, the referee adjudged this a dangerous tackle and awarded Ards the penalty, which Lawton converted, but the Bangor player strangely remained on the pitch. Bangor 13 v Ards 10

Ards made wholesale changes in the third quarter, replacing half the pack and 3 backs, Bangor took advantage of these changes and scored a converted try after 2 minutes after driving over from a lineout close to the Ards line. Bangor 20 v Ards 10

Ards replied in the 7th minute when Ards centre Scott Young hit the line hard and. crashed over beside the Bangor posts after strong driving play by Ards second row McBurney, Lawton converted. Bangor 20 v Ards 17

In the final five minutes of this quarter Bangor stretched their lead scoring 2 tries, one of which was converted, both tries came from mistakes by Ards, firstly by failing to find touch from a penalty and then not dealing with the returned kick and secondly when Bangor seized on turnover ball following an Ards attack breaking down. Bangor 32 v Ards 17

Ards opened the scoring in the final quarter after 3 minutes when prop Foster took a quick penalty, Ards then gained good yards through McBurney, the ball was recycled well by the supporting forwards and scrum half McKee released the ball to the backs, outhalf and Ards captain Stewart Paul moved the ball to Young who crashed through the Bangor defence line to off load to the supporting Paul to go over for a well worked try Paul converted. Bangor 32 v Ards 24

Ards were chasing the game and were dealt the killer blow when another attacking play broke down and Bangor quickly moved the turned over the ball to their centre who scored wide out despite the covering Ards defence, the conversion was missed. Bangor 42 v Ards 24

Ards responded with a well worked try when No8 Porter picked up from the base of a scrum on the Bangor 10 meter line and made good yards putting Bangor on the back foot, this ball was recycled twice before being released down the Ards backline for right wing Neil Armstrong to show great pace and score out wide, the conversion was missed. Bangor 42 v Ards 29

Ards continued to press Bangor hard and forced a turnover from Bangor, the Ards backs attacked and then bombarded the Bangor line, the Bangor defence held strong although somewhat illegally as they were penalised 3 times in succession within the red zone for killing or slowing the Ards attacking ball, from the last of these penalties Ards prop Jonny Miller was adjudged to have been bundled into touch by the Bangor touch judge prior to grounding the ball, with this, the referee blew his whistle for the end of the match. Bangor 42 v Ards 29

This was a useful run out for the Ards squad, it is never nice to lose against a junior club especially Bangor, but Head Coach Stewart Porter along with his management team will have learnt a lot from this match, especially seeing the Ards debutants and the returning Adam McKee play.

Hard work by the management team has seen Ards strengthen their senior squad and with some 20 other players not available due to work commitments, injury or holiday, things are looking good and there will be plenty of competition for places.

Ards squad:
J Miller, Colin McClure, A Foster, G McBurney, D Calvert, M Harrison, A McKee, M Porter, M Lawton, S Paul (captain), N Armstrong, S Young, T Ferguson, T Devlin, B Duff, A Peden, M Busby, C Busby, R Norwood, J Matthews, J McKee, G Wilson, Chris McClure, N Beggs, A Coulter