By Rory McKee
ARDS Rugby Club will hope to go one better than last season having made it through to the Junior Shield Final for the second campaign in a row.
The Hamilton Park men lost out to Carrick at the Affidea Stadium in March but now have another shot at the prize, having seen off the challenge of Malone Seconds in last weekend’s semi-final in east Belfast.
Ards are set to meet Championship One outfit Randalstown in the decider of the competition, which was restructured at the start of this season to remove the previous group stage format, at the home of Ulster Rugby on December 27.
Head coach Palmer Eccles said they are ‘determined’ to be on the winning side this time around.
“One of our aims at the start of the season was to try and get another run in the Junior Shield after getting beat in last season’s final,” he explained.
“In the first round we managed to beat Carrick 16-0 away from home, the team that beat us in the final last season.
“We then beat Larne and Malone in two tough games. Our opponents, Randalstown, are in the league above us so we know it will be a difficult game, but we are really determined to try and go one better than last season.”
Coach Eccles previously told the Chronicle the side were making ‘no secrets’ about their goal to acheive promotion this term, and a key set of league games between now and Christmas provide the immediate focus for Ards.
They face current Championship Two leaders Carrick at Hamilton Park on Saturday, before successive games against Grosvenor on December 13 and 20. Ards are fourth in the table, eight points behind Limavady in second.
