Ards 2nd XV travelled to Deramore Park on Saturday to play the Kinetica sponsored “Deramore Devels”in the Conference League. Due to the wet conditions over the past number of days all the matches had to be moved onto different pitches as the main pitch had become unplayable. This meant the “Devels” had to play on a unfamiliar pitch, one only a few of them had ever played a competitive match on before.
Action Shots to follow
The game opened as the “Devels” showed their intent with a Kyle Adams try on the 2nd minute mark, converted by Chris Henderson 7-0.
Ards fought back and were very competitive at the breakdown but it was on the 10 minute mark that Henderson scored the second try of the day, conversion pulled right of the posts. 12 – 0
The visitors then settled into the game and had a number of sorties into Quins half but the home sides defence stood firm, line outs and scrums were going well for them and it was on the 21st minute that number 8, Dan McRitchie broke off a dominant scrum to score the third try for the Devels, converted by Henderson, 19-0.
Ards again put pressure on the home side as they seemed to be having problems with the restarts, Ards won the ball and went through a number of phases but on 27 minutes turnover ball by Quins Lock, Jack Lavery saw him off load to the ever present Adams who ran 40 metres to score, converted by Henderson, 26 – 0.
Ards were not to stand back the managed a well worked converted try, 26 – 7.
Problems then started for Quins when on 31 minutes winger Kevin Foggarty was yellow carded for hands in the ruck and was followed on 33 minutes by centre Finton Hillyard who was yellow carded for another offence.
This gave the visitors the chance of coming back into the game but excellent game management and defence secured the possession and on the last play of the half Quins were awarded a penalty which Henderson goaled making the halftime score 29-7.
At half time the problems with the restarts and other minor handling problems were sorted and Quins came out with vigour in the second half even though they were still down to 13 men.
Their defence and work rate at the collision zone paid off, they stopped any Ards attack and soon Adams had broken from a maul and off loaded to Henderson who passed to the supporting McRitchie who went in for this second try. Henderson converted, 36 – 7.
Ards were visibly tyring and a few minutes later Adams broke their defence with a great angle to score his third try, conversion bounce off the right upright, 41 – 7.
From every restart the Devels attacked and within the next six minutes Adams, McRitchie and Stuart Leckey all scored tries all converted by Henderson making the score 62 – 7 and at that time full time was called.
Quins support play and handling dominated the game, it was a good start to the 2013 season as all tries had structure to them and their defence against a physical side stood firm.
The Devels next game is back in the Ulster Senior 2nd XV league against Banbridge at Rifle Park on Friday night 7 30pm ko.
