REPORT Ards 2s 43 v Omagh 2s 18

Ards bag the points at Hamilton Park by Roy Lawton

After last week’s close encounter and league win against Coleraine, Ards 2nd XV hosted a lively Omagh 2s in the league at Hamilton Park. The Club was at full stretch this week, turning out 3 full adult sides, so it was all hands on deck to ensure all fixtures were fulfilled.
Joel DePledge got proceedings underway with a fine drop-kick to start the game in almost perfect playing conditions.
Ards forwards were quickly up amongst the visitors and regained possession and recycled the ball out along the backs. The ball was reset and a forward pod led by Pepe Ratu smashed it up for the big man to crash over for the opening try, to the right of the posts, with only 2 minutes played. DePledge converted and Ards were off to a great start.
Omagh came back with a quick reply of their own but were unable to convert so the score stood at 7 – 5 to the hosts.
A costly error then saw Omagh take the lead with a well struck penalty before DePledge repaid in kind with a penalty of his own.
The game was beginning to settle into a nice rhythm as both sides probed each other like sparing partners, looking for a weakness.
Ards were first to seize on a lapse in concentration and DePledge raced through to score and convert his own try after some slick handling and cleaver footwork from the fanciful young centre……. CLICK HERE for the full report