Xmas cheer for Ards 1sts

Ards RFC 1st XV welcomed Randalstown RFC 1st XV to Hamilton Park in the latest round of the Kukri Ulster Championship League Two. Some changes were seen from last week's match at Limavady, with Captain Paul Cox and Aaron May returning at fly half and scrum half in the backs. In the forwards, Ross Torney was restored to the second row and Matthew Walker to the back row. The bench saw the addition of Andrew Foster and Onisi Burekama.

The teams took to the pitch on a bitterly cold day, with a strong north wind producing a wind chill approaching minus 10. This wind was to be a strong factor throughout, dictating tactics and possession for both sides.

Ards started with the wind advantage having won the toss and from the start used Cox's boot to gain territory and patiently work through phases. The pack used their trademark patterns to good effect and with the territory, the backs were brought in early. The volume of breakdowns was high and with only 5 minutes gone, a kickable penalty was earned and duly taken by Cox, the lead to Ards at 3-0.

Within a few minutes, another penalty chance presented itself, but a late wind gust forced the ball on to the upright and the chance escaped.

Spending most of the first quarter in Randalstown's half, the home side found their well known defensive hardness difficult to breakdown. A number of chances were created, but poor discipline at the breakdown coupled with excellent jackalling from the visiting defenders saw Ards' efforts resisted for some time.

At this point, scrum half May had to retire with a hand injury and the reorganisation of the backline meant they had to re-establish their rhythm. However, the pack were carrying ball well, with Tom Arthur Donnan and Matthew Bell putting in their usual shifts.

Eventually, this pressure told with a penalty awarded and goaled by Cox on the half hour mark for a 6-0 lead.

The Ards scrum was in a massive ascendency, but the referee's interpretation was puzzling and a series of clear penalty offences went unpunished. As it was, Ards failed to capitalise elsewhere and a 6-0 half time lead was scant reward for both their efforts and the advantageous conditions.

The second half saw Randalstown use the wind advantage in the same way as Ards did in the first and enjoy like territorial and possession advantage. Ards defended manfully and cleared their lines time and again, with their excellent scrummaging a vital tool.

However, as the final quarter was closing and with Ards down to 14 men, the visitors were not to be denied as their forwards scored through a series of pick and drives. The conversion was missed  and the lead reduced to 6-5.

Randalstown were soon on the front foot after the restart and Ards were engaged in a constant breakdown battle in defence as the visiting  pack continued with their short driving plays. With 15 minutes remaining, the visitors were awarded a kickable penalty and took the lead for the first time at 6-8.

Knowing one score would give them the win, Ards found a second wind and drove up the pitch with determination and great accuracy. Once inside the visitor's 22, they referred to a closer carrying game as the forwards pushed themselves to outdo the visitors' dogged defence. One offence too many at the breakdown brought a penalty in front of the posts, which Cox coolly slotted for Ards to regain the lead at 9-8.

With less than 10 minutes remaining in the match, Randalstown threw their all into the contest and were quickly into good territory, despite the good fielding and returning of long kicks by the Ards back three. Again, they went to their forwards, with their backs having been easily repelled throughout by stout work from the Ards midfield. However, the Ards forwards were equally frugal in defence and the visitors' efforts were reduced to scrum restarts, where the Ards' eight dominance disrupted their chances.

Holding possession for the closing minutes, Ards kicked the ball out and the final whistle to give them a hard won victory at 9-8.

The win points move Ards up one place in the table, but they now have to wait until 18th January for their return to League action proper. The Christmas period sees them take on games in the Conference against the second teams of Banbridge and Malone.

It will be interesting to see how the teams below them fare in their own League games in the intervening period. With the League approaching the half way mark, there are 6 out of 10 teams fighting to avoid the bottom two positions.