CHAMPIONSHIP 2
LISBURN 3 ARDS 50
ARDS grasped the opportunity to move clear in third place with a dominant performance on the road to Lisburn last Saturday.Early pressure earned the home side a kickable penalty after five minutes, which they took for a 0-3 lead, but it wasn’t long before Ards got into their stride. A good break through the middle saw Ards deep in the Lisburn 22 and a handful of phases sucked in the Lisburn defence, allowing the ball to be moved to full-back Ethan Bell to run in his side’s opening try. His own conversion was good and the score was now 3-7.From the restart, a smart interception by centre Joel DePledge saw him kick deep for the supporting run of Bell. Hauled down just short of the line, the tracking DePledge picked the ball from the base of the ensuing ruck and walked over the line for a try as the score moved to 3-12.The Ards defence was then put to work with their dominant scrum earning turnovers. A line out penalty drive moved to phase play for DePledge to crash over for his second try at the end of the first quarter. With Bell’s conversion good, the score was now 3-19.Straight from the restart, Ards were again on the front foot with strong carries from Matthew Kane and Danny Patton allowing the backline to create width. A break from fly-half Robbie Johnston brought Ards close to the 22 and soon after, a kick pass from Johnston was fielded by Ethan Bell to pass inside to the onrushing Matthew Bell. The big flanker made no mistake as he took the bonus point try for his team.As the game restarted, Ards worked some good structured phases, with Curtis Ewing and Danny McCullough adding to the work rate. The penalty count against Lisburn was increasing as they struggled to hold their discipline. Moving into the home 22, Ards’ carrying and interplay soon earned an overlap and a pass to number eight Robbie Grant saw him step the last two tacklers for Ards’ fifth try on the half-hour mark,A period of centralised play ensued, but the Ards defence remained resilient and were soon back on the attack from a penalty line out. Drawing the defence in with strong carries from the pack and quick ruck ball, another overlap to the right saw the ball flashed to the wing for league debutant Mason McFarland to take his maiden 1st XV try. DePledge’s conversion brought the score to 3-36 on the stroke of half-time.As play resumed, the third quarter saw the Ards attack continue, aided by scrum turnovers and fresh legs from the bench. Good defensive pressure then saw a charge down by flanker Curtis Ewing, who followed through to jackal a turnover penalty. The line out option saw a drive followed by multiple phases and stout Lisburn defending. Staying patient, Ards managed to switch the ball to McFarland on the wing and his break saw Johnston pick from the next ruck and run up the blindside for a try. DePledge added the extras for a score of 3-43.The restart was well won by Lisburn who enjoyed some possession until a turnover by Trevor Devlin allowed Luke Megarity to race clear up the right touchline. Moving forward, Ards won a succession of penalties and ended up taking a scrum option wide to the left. A set move saw captain Ryan Upritchard run in a try under the posts. The conversion added by DePledge, Ards now lead 3-50 with 30 minutes of play left.For the rest of the third quarter, Lisburn enjoyed good territory and possession as they worked hard in the Ards 22 for an opening. However, Ards’ defensive edge did not dull and they eventually emerged to create a scoring chance, but were held up over the line. The final period again saw territory for the home side, but their efforts were repulsed and the contest ended with no further scores added.
