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2nd XV Match report - Saturday 20th October
STEPHEN NUTT22 Oct 2012 - 14:06
Ards 2nds 23 v City of Derry 31
Ards welcomed City of Derry to Hamilton Park in autumn afternoon sunshine and in good condition despite heavy rain earlier in the week. There was good home support eager to see Ards test themselves against a City of Derry team that put Ards to the sword earlier in the season at Judges Road.
Playing on the 1st pitch the home team had fair share of the opening quarter possession and territory. For significant periods Ards had the visitors pinned on their try line but failed to take advantage. City of Derry’s disciplined and rugged defence denied Ards the opening try.Ards props Colin McClure and Ashley Paden impressed with two bullocking carries. Ryan Mills, Andy Hassard and Conrad Stewart also made ground from strong drives. Derry Defence held out until the 20 minute when a Chris McClure tackle earned a penalty and Ricky Aston converted to get Ards on the scoreboard. A lost line-out in the Ards 22 lead to a City of Derry converted try.Ards surged back with a great break by Stevie McKee supported by Neil Armstrong a try saving tackle by the visitors fullback perverted a deserved try. With play in the visitors 22 the forwards put pressure on to win 2 quick pens that Aston slotted over to gave Ards a 9-7 lead with 5 minutes left to halftime. City of Derry responded with two converted tries the half-time score 9-21 shown that Ards had failed to turn pressure into points and the visitors to their credit had taken their chances. Ards moved up a gear after the break with Ryan Yates intercepting a pass to run in under the posts Aston added the extras 16-21 to put the home team back in the game. The Ards defence came under sustained pressure as the opposition upped the tempo Inspirational Captain Adam McKee won a penalty from a turn over to release the pressure in front of the posts. The penalty was reversed by the ref when a tussle broken out on the ground the the Ards centre Trevor Devlin was yellow carded for throwing the ball away. A poor decision with the City of Derry number 8 still on the pitch. Derry decided on a scrum and after a series off 5 mt scrums their number 8 got over for an unconverted try. Adam Coulter Ards 18 year old winger made a super tackle to his opposite number putting him into touch at the corner flag. City of Derry where not to be denied and scored a further try from a 5 mt lineout.
Trevor Devlin on his return ran a line off Aston to power his way over from mid-field. Ricky Aston kept his 100% kicking game with the conversion. Ards finished the game with 13 players as prop Colin McClure and Peter Coan who had a great game in the line-out going off with injuries. This was an excellent game of rugby played by two committed teams playing open rugby.
Ards : S.McKee, A.Coulter, C.McClure, T.Delvin, N.Armstrong, R.Aston, C.Stewart, A.Hassard, R.Yates, R.Mills, P.Coan, A.McKee, A.Pedan, C.Stewart, C.McClure.
Playing on the 1st pitch the home team had fair share of the opening quarter possession and territory. For significant periods Ards had the visitors pinned on their try line but failed to take advantage. City of Derry’s disciplined and rugged defence denied Ards the opening try.Ards props Colin McClure and Ashley Paden impressed with two bullocking carries. Ryan Mills, Andy Hassard and Conrad Stewart also made ground from strong drives. Derry Defence held out until the 20 minute when a Chris McClure tackle earned a penalty and Ricky Aston converted to get Ards on the scoreboard. A lost line-out in the Ards 22 lead to a City of Derry converted try.Ards surged back with a great break by Stevie McKee supported by Neil Armstrong a try saving tackle by the visitors fullback perverted a deserved try. With play in the visitors 22 the forwards put pressure on to win 2 quick pens that Aston slotted over to gave Ards a 9-7 lead with 5 minutes left to halftime. City of Derry responded with two converted tries the half-time score 9-21 shown that Ards had failed to turn pressure into points and the visitors to their credit had taken their chances. Ards moved up a gear after the break with Ryan Yates intercepting a pass to run in under the posts Aston added the extras 16-21 to put the home team back in the game. The Ards defence came under sustained pressure as the opposition upped the tempo Inspirational Captain Adam McKee won a penalty from a turn over to release the pressure in front of the posts. The penalty was reversed by the ref when a tussle broken out on the ground the the Ards centre Trevor Devlin was yellow carded for throwing the ball away. A poor decision with the City of Derry number 8 still on the pitch. Derry decided on a scrum and after a series off 5 mt scrums their number 8 got over for an unconverted try. Adam Coulter Ards 18 year old winger made a super tackle to his opposite number putting him into touch at the corner flag. City of Derry where not to be denied and scored a further try from a 5 mt lineout.
Trevor Devlin on his return ran a line off Aston to power his way over from mid-field. Ricky Aston kept his 100% kicking game with the conversion. Ards finished the game with 13 players as prop Colin McClure and Peter Coan who had a great game in the line-out going off with injuries. This was an excellent game of rugby played by two committed teams playing open rugby.
Ards : S.McKee, A.Coulter, C.McClure, T.Delvin, N.Armstrong, R.Aston, C.Stewart, A.Hassard, R.Yates, R.Mills, P.Coan, A.McKee, A.Pedan, C.Stewart, C.McClure.
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