Randalstown 12
Ards 52
ARDS Rugby got their new season preparations off to a strong start with a comfortable victory away to Randalstown on Saturday.
With a return to Championship Division 1 only two weeks away, head coach Palmer
Eccles brought 24 players for a 4×20-minute format game.
Second debuts for Michael Lawton and Jordy DePledge, after long playing absences, were complimented by maiden outings for Hasan Kaymak, Zeki Kaya, Noah Miskimmin and Ryan Gilmore.
The opening exchanges led to a kick into the Ards 22, which was switched wide to Ryan Upritchard for a great run, before moving the ball back inside to the trailing backline. Quick hands saw Aaron May open the scoring in the corner after three minutes.
The next 15 minutes saw injury stoppages and some pressure from Randalstown, using their big pack, but the Ards defence held firm and equalised play again.
Winning a scrum turnover on half-way, the ball was moved wide for May to break the line and run deep, playing the scoring pass to Lawton. Adding his own conversion, the score
moved to 0-12.
The second quarter saw Ards introduce their bench, and the majority of the play was centralised as the two changed sides fought to establish continuity and territory.
In the end, a lineout penalty and a driving maul brought the opening score for the
home side, as the half ended 12-5.
With the teams swapping ends, Ards found themsleves playing with the slope and the
wind, as they again reshuffle the 15-man lineup.
A sharp break from wing Matthew Warnock saw him chip through for the tracking Lawton to
score under the posts. The conversion was accurate once more, moving Ards ahead by 14 points.
A period of exchanges saw Randalstown take a lineout penalty, and another driving maul brought a converted try, with the gap closed at 19-12.
The visitors went on the attack when play resumed and soon had a foothold in the
home 22, with neat phase play ending in a score for Upritchard, which was converted
by Lawton.
Straight from the restart, Matthew Kane went on a bullocking run, and the entire team produced a series of phases that ended in a hat-trick try for Lawton. Adding the conversion, the margin grew to 33-12 at the end of the third quarter.
As both sides returned to their starting teams for the final period, Ards went straight to work. Earning a five-metre scrum, a few quick carries led to Kane crashing over for
the away team’s sixth try, which Lawton converted to stretch the scoring at 40-12.
Randalstown threatened briefly until an offensive kick was gathered by Angus Christie and ran back through the defensive cover. Quick interpassing saw May take a great score out wide, while Lawton’s kicking made it 47-12.
The remaining minutes played out in a physical manner, with Ards’ defence on top and forcing turnovers.
One such move saw clever thinking release Angus Christie for the final try and a score of 12-52 at the full-time whistle.
It was a very useful day for the Ards squad and coaches, with the more established players in good shape and the youngsters showing the coaching team what they are capable of.
Ards will now turn attention to their second pre-season match, hosting CIYMS this Saturday, before taking on rivals Bangor in their opening league game of the season a week later.
