Ards 3rds run riot

Ards 3rds 59 v Belfast Harlequins 4ths 0

Ards 3rds entertained Belfast Harlequins 4ths last Saturday. The near perfect conditions allowed for an entertaining free flowing game for the eager crowd in attendance.

From the outset Ards set out their stall using their dominate front five in the scrums and rucks to set the platform. This display freed up the energetic Ards back row trio to run riot, with some fierce first up hits leaving the Quins side with little or no options in defence. The forward dominance allowed the fleet footed Ards backs time and space to attack at will in the early stages.

Once Ards had settled into their patterns their first real meaningful attack allowed some great support play with Adam Carrol and Jonny Fletcher making space for centre John McCartney to follow in support for the first try of the day, converted by Carrol from the touchline. Ards 7 v Quins 0

Ards continued to dominate up front with captain Davy Thompson to the fore with one break in particular of 40 metres and with the support now flowing through some intricate passing allowed Matt Warnock to score Ards’ second try of the day, again converted by Carroll. Ards 14 v Quins 0

The tone was now well and truly set for the game with Ards threatening to score from almost any distance and the eager young backs demanding possession to exploit the weak Quins defence. However the Ards forwards had other ideas, with bustling runs from Bryan McFarland and Gary Dempsey.

The returning Stewart Stevenson even had time to throw in the old 'show and go' to the disbelief of the young Quins side who have never seen such a thing of beauty from such a burly prop. With Ards firmly in the driving seat under the steady hand of legend Andy Matchett at scrum half further tries were added by Sam McVeigh and Robert Hull.

Half time: Ards 26 v Quins 0

The second half was much more of the same. Ards introduced young Hugh James Torney for a taste of the action at centre and after a few early mishaps he took to the centre birth like a seasoned veteran. Ards lost prop Dempsey with a nasty facial gash sustained in a tackle early in the second half, we wish him well in recovery.

Even with the changes made the team fell back into their pattern quickly and returned on the offensive and the fifth try of the day scored by Thompson converted by Carroll.

Ards went on the rampage and added further tries by Fallon, Fletcher and Fry with many converted by Carroll to leave a final score of Ards 59 Quins 0.

Overall Saturday was a display which this team has threatened to do on a few occasions this season and everyone left the field in jubilant form. Ards now eagerly await the McCambley Cup draw for early December and the resumption of league duties in the new year.