The Hamilton Park men will be back to a full rugby program next week with all four Senior sides and Youth teams in action on Saturday.
\nThe 1st XV season has been a bit of a roller coaster so far, both on and off the pitch, but there are signs that Coach Laurence Kelly is slowly starting to turn things around with good numbers returning on training nights.
\nThey face Queens in the Senior League at Hamilton Park on Saturday and might just be able to turn their fortunes around if everybody sticks to the task as they did in the opening rounds against Rainey recently. Not an easy task against a young bunch of energetic students perhaps, but then nothing ventured nothing gained.
\nThe 2s also face Queens at home as their topsy tervy season continues but here too there are signs that Captain Gary Presho is beginning to get to grips with things which should help them settle more for the remainder of the season. Their match kicks off at 1pm.
\nThe 3rds were the only winning side in the club last week when they defeated Queens in the Foster Cup. A very pleasing performance from a team that has huge potential under the guidance of Gareth Paden and puts them in a confident mood as they head into their next match on the road to Portadown in the league.
\nFor the 4th XV this will be their first outing in almost 2 months as their long lengthy layoff due mainly to the harsh weather, draws to a close. Hopefully this has also given Robin Johnston\u2019s men ample time to recover from all their bumps and bruises so that normal winning service can be resumed as soon as possible, when they face Academy in the league on Saturday.
\nBoth the U19s and U17s start their Cup runs this week with the 19s away to Carrick and the 17s home to Portadown, and both have an excellent chance of progressing into the next round. The younger members of the club have performed admirably under Coaches Joe Kelly and Dayle Jones and look set to make good progress through the remainder of the season. The U17s have an 11am Kick-off.<\/p>\n
The Ladies <\/strong>are continuing to build towards their first match in the Ards colours with Ross Reid and Ian Caughey at the helm and everybody at the club is looking forward to that day with great excitement. This will be a huge milestone for the club as it moves into its next chapter with the hope of much better things to come. The Minis next set of friendly games are away to Carrick on Saturday February 5. Players should meet at Carrick\u2019s Woodlawn Grounds, Woodburn Road, Carrickfergus no later than 9.45am. Lads Down Under<\/strong>
\nAs well as coaching the Ladies team, Ian Caughey continues to drive the Mini section forward with great enthusiasm and bold vision. The Mini section has been well established for many years now and under Ian looks on course to continue for many years to come. Their end of season Mini Tournament is proposed to take place on Sunday April 17.
\nMatch Reports And Scores<\/strong>
\n1st XV 5 v 36 Nenagh Ormond
\n 2nd XV 0 v 35 Enniskillen
\n3rd XV 20 v 0 Queens
\nU17s 0 v 15 Instonians
\nGet Well Soon<\/strong>
\nFormer Ards Mini player Richard Spence (18) has been injured in Afghanistan while serving with the 1st Battalion Irish Guards. Our thoughts and prayers are extended to Richard and his family and we wish him a full and speedy recovery.
\nMini<\/strong>
\nIt is proposed to host Ards Mini Rugby Tournament this season on Sunday April 17 from 12 noon. Details on the Tournaments format are still being worked out and will be announced in the coming weeks. Any parent or guardian who would like to assist the Mini Committee in organising such a mammoth event or help out on the day would be very welcome and is asked to contact their respective coaches or forward their contact details on to the Mini Co-ordinator, Ian Caughey.<\/p>\n
\nNews Worthy Items
\nPlease remember to keep on submitting news worthy items, match reports and photos etc to the club PRO or webmaster for publication in the local media and club website on a regular basis.<\/p>\n
\nSome people don’t need much of an excuse to dress up, but when you’re thousands of miles away from home, the mind seems to act in the most peculiar way.
\nShane Barr, Luke Parsons and David Algie look to have been out in the Australian midday sun just a bit too long during the recent Ashes tour and must have thought, awe what the heck, who’s gona know?
\nWho would have thought that out of all the thousands of spectators in Melbourne that day, the SKY cameras would have picked out these three likely lads and former Ards hunks wearing woman\u2019s clothing.
\nRumor has it, it was for a good cause, but others back home would say they were just being themselves, whatever that means.<\/p>\n