Ards 2nds lose to CIYMS

Newly promoted Ards, hosted a decent CI outfit at Hamilton Park in their season opener under floodlights last Friday night.

With Ards sporting a number of new faces in the ranks and a few returning older ones, the game got underway.

Early exchanges were fairly even before the visitors opened their account with a well taken try out wide, on 16 minutes. The conversion was missed. The slickness of their backs was something to keep an eye on, but the home forwards looked to be gaining the upper hand in their own particular department.

On 24 minutes, CI flashed the ball along the back-line once again for a second, this time converted try, to take a 12 point lead. Their backs were dangerous with crisp passing and slight of hand to mesmerise the sizeable onlookers gathered over by the clubhouse.

Ards regrouped and forced a turnover ball in the opposition 22. The home forwards were now beginning to make their presence felt and dominate in the set piece most notably with Ross Copeland soaring into the night sky as he took magnificent ball from Captain Davy Chivers in the line-out. The ball was recycled along the backs to the right wing where Aaron Faloon scampered over for a great try, converted by Alex Gaw. This was better stuff from the Ardsmen.

CI got their 3rd try on the 30 minute mark, again through fast hands along the backs, this too was converted and that's how it remained up to the interval.

Apart from the scoreline, it wasn't a bad effort from an Ards perspective, but with the Ards forwards well on top of their counterparts, this game was not over by a long shot.

The restart saw Sam McVeigh take a high ball over on the far side, go to ground and lay it back. However a chasing CI forward was quickest to reacted and stepped over, picked up the ball and trotted the 10m to score their 4th try, which went unconverted. Strange one to let slip, but it was the first game of the season and exceptions can be made for being a little bit rusty on this occasion.

Ards kept the ball well up front and pressed at every opportunity with great carries from Davy Chivers, Davy, Michael, Jimmy Gray and Phil Shields, all making good ground deep into opposition territory.

CI sensed danger and reverted to taking long range penalty attempts whenever they could, landing one, to try and keep their noses in front, as Ards got ever closer to line.

CI finished off their night with another converted try along the backs on 64 minutes but it really was against the run of play as Ards controlled possession and territory through their superior forwards but just couldn't turn it into points on the board.

Jacob Scott on the left wing, put in some cracking tackles against their fanciful back-line preventing further tries and is a very useful asset to the team.

Overall, this was a very promising display from the Ards lads and one which will put them in good stead for when they face Ballymena at Ards in a couple of weeks time.

Thanks are extended to CI for an enjoyable game, the match day official, an excellent turnout of vocal support and the ever present touchline jury.

Just a reminder that numbers at training have been the best they've been in a good number of years, with enough for 2 full teams plus extras, so thank you to everyone, please keep it going.