Armagh inflict heavy defeat on Ards seconds
Armagh seconds played Ards in a second fifteen league fixture on Saturday at the palace grounds. It was only 6 minutes into the game when good support play by Joe Coventry earned him an early try at the posts. With the conversion by Matthew Steenson, the home side led 7-0. Shortly after when Ards were attacking Armagh’s 22, a loose pass by one of the Ards’s backs was gathered by Paul Campbell who set off on a 60 metre race to score at the posts for another converted try, 14-0 to Armagh. With Timmy McNeice showing his class on the wing, the home backline were able to create several more scoring chances which led to tries from John Fletcher, Coventry and Steenson. Two of these scores were converted by Steenson to bring the half time score to 33-0. In the second half, the home side continued in the same vein. Armagh were not having their own way in the scrums as the big Ards forwards were able to pressurise the home put in. However with David Spratt, centres Elliott and Matty Campbell and fullback Robbie Thompson in the backline, more tries were to follow. Again good support play by Coventry saw him touch down for his hatrick try converted by Steenson. Straight from the dropout, Captain Oliver took a clean catch and set off on a race into unknown territory and when stopped at the visitors 22, the ball was moved quickly left for Peter Elliott to score at the posts. On 60 minutes Prop Kurtis Sherry finished off a series of drives by the forwards close to the try line. The final score came after some enterprising play by backs and forwards which led to Steenson putting a delightful crossfield kick to the corner flag where Timmy McNeice caught a low ball and dived for the line in one action. With a superb conversion by Steenson, the referee brought the game to an early close with the final score being Armagh 57, Ards 0. A good performance by the seconds which will set them up for some tougher games ahead.
