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.
Ards gave away another penalty which was duly landed before the visitors took a well deserved try which they also converted.
Two more penalties from the boot of DePledge then saw Ards ease ahead, 27 – 18 at the break.
The forwards led by captain Davy Chivers were dominating the set piece and many aspects of open play. Pods were operating well and a sound platform was being laid for scrumhalf ‘Kaz’ Kasarate to whip the ball out and allow Mark Miskimmon to release his backline into the attack.
The second half got off to another flyer when twinkle toes Stevie McKee, showed off his fast feet and danced his way through the Omagh defence to score a well worked try for DePledge to convert.
Danny Patton and Davy Calvert bruised their way around the park throughout the day with some ferocious tackling while Jonny Miller and Ashley Peden looked solid in the scrum.
Another DePledge penalty put more daylight between the two sides before McKee got his second for DePledge to convert again.
Omagh never gave up trying, but it was that man DePledge who was to have the final say with another well struck penalty from just inside his own half to seal the victory and bring his own personal points tally on the day up to very pleasing 28 points.
Ethan dodge, Matty Bell, Adam Coulter, Aaron Fullerton, Jack Miskimmin, Connor McKee, Max Harrison and Ben Orr all played their part in this whole team performance with good work not going unnoticed.
At the final whistle, Ards were looking to run in another try, but in the end were content to settle with a fine 43 – 18 points victory over their Tyrone counterparts.
A fine overall performance from an Ards perspective, but still with a few things to work on.
Thanks are extended to Omagh for making the journey, the match official and the touchline faithful for their support.
Training continues on Tuesday and Thursday evenings from 7pm on the pitch and remember get fit to play, train to play and play to win.