Ballynahinch 48 v Ards 0

Ards 2nds made the trip to unbeaten league leaders Ballynahinch with a much changed team from last week’s encouraging display at Banbridge.

Gareth Paden came in as Captain alongside Ashley Peden and Ben Laird in a all new front row which formed a solid platform for the Ards scrum.

Ards suffered an early set back when second row Jack Matthews went over on this ankle on the heavy pitch in the warm up. Many thanks to the Ballynahinch 1st team physio who taped him up, enabling Ards to start with 15 players.

Ards completed well, restricting the play in midfield with robust defence from the returning Chris McClure and Trevor Devlin who earned an early turn over only to be harshly penalised at the resulting scrum for a crooked feed, Ballynahinch showed their intent refusing to kick for points and going for the driving lineout, the Ards forwards did well to hold the ball up but the Hinch back line controlled by an influential fly half managed to put their left winger in for a opening score.

Hinch followed this up with two identical scores from the well drilled home team. Ards began to put phases of play together but put themselves under pressure by missing penalty kicks to touch and getting penalties reversed for dissent.

The home team switched play down the right hand side a prefect chip over the top was gathered by the pacing winger to score under the posts.

Ards were reduced to 14 players losing young winger Adam Coulter to a shoulder injury (why is there no replacements allowed at this level?)

The Ards scrum was performing well with Stevie Robinson playing out of position at No8 making good ground. Fly half Oren Kisby made a superb turnover at the breakdown as Ballynahinch built the intensity on the Ards try line, but Ards couldn't contend with the slick movement of the Ballyanhinch backline.

Half time: Ballynahinch 28 v Ards 0

For the first 20minutes of the second half Ards played their best rugby this season dominating possession and territory. Scrum half Matt McHenry was a big influence raising the momentum and was unlucky not to score from a quick tap penalty.

Prop Peden also went close as Ards kept play in the opposition half but Ballynahinch scored a breakaway try from halfway.

Ards failed to capitalise on their pressure and the heavy pitch took its toll on the Ards side who conceded two late tries.

Final score: Ballynahinch 49 v Ards 0

Ards 2nds: A Peden, G Paden, B Laird, J Matthews, J Coulter, S Robinson, O Burekama, A Dodd, M McHenry, O Kisby, C McClure, T Devlin, A Coulter, A Wright, G Wilson