Last Saturday the 3rds were the only Ards team in action. The opposition were from the big city up the road….Bangor. The 3rds v Bangor 3rds is always the Old Firm derby of minor rugby in Ulster with both teams sharing the spoils over the last few seasons.

Ards have had a resurgence in the younger aged players at the club and some of the veterans have had to make way to their younger counterparts. This new look 3rds were out to show what they had.

Straight from the kickoff, James Ward fielded the ball and started the game as he meant to continue, with an impressive forward drive. Phase after phase allowed the backs to move the ball and Aaron May hit the line as incisively as a surgeon’s scalpel to manoeuvre his way through the Bangor defence to score. Paul Cox added the extras and Ards were off and running.

Ards 7 - Bangor 0

8 mins in and Ards cleared down the field, Gareth McBurney then stole a Bangor lineout and 3 phases later Paul Hamilton was in on his return to an Ards shirt. Cox converted.

Ards 14 - Bangor 0

16mins and Ards were purring and playing textbook rugby. The speed of the ruck was something more representative of a team of a higher level. Ward stole one of many Bangor overthrows at the back of the lineout and Mcburney was up the middle of the pitch again. The ball was moved wide with great urgency and left wing Ben Thompson drove hard taking Bangor defenders with him. Scrum half Joe Fullwood sniped in for a score. Cox converted.

Ards 21 v Bangor 0

20minutes in and Ards pressure under the Bangor posts saw a Bangor player carry the ball over the line and touch down, giving Ards a 5m scrum. McBurney picked & went, but was held short. Good ruck ball allowed the veteran Gary Presho to stretch from 5m out and his telescopic arms saw him in for the Ards bonus point. Cox converted

Ards 28 v Bangor 0

Camped in the Bangor half, Ards dominated possession and pressured Bangor into mistakes, another scrum in the opposition 22, saw McBurney pick the ball up and his eyes sparkled as he saw the Bangor winger as the only line of defence. The laws of physics prevailed and the big man scored under the posts. Again Cox with the conversion.

Ards 35 v Bangor 0

From the kickoff, Ards were back on attack with great play from McBurney again. Quick ball was shifted wide and Ben Thompson was on his way, a couple of phases later a penalty was awarded. Skipper Cox was thinking on a different level and with a quick tap, he was through and below the posts for a converted try.

Ards 42 v Bangor 0

Right on halftime, Bangor had their first exploration of the Ards 22 and after a series of lazy penalties, Bangor scored in the corner.

Half time Ards 42 v Bangor 5

There was a bit of toing & froing from both sides at the start of the second half, with neither team getting on top. It took an Ards attack to be thwarted short of the line after an Adam Barnes surge. Bangor turned the ball over with a slick steal and a kick deep put them on the attack. A leg race between the two 12s saw Aaron May retrieve the ball and then with twinkle toes leave the Bangor defenders hypnotised & standing still, his break and offload were special. The ball was moved wide and Ben Thompson turned on the turbo, about to score in the corner he was taken high by a Bangor player and a penalty try was awarded.

Ards 49 v Bangor 5

The result at this point was never in doubt, but Bangor were not lying down. Some high tackles from a tiring Ards defence saw the returning Mike Taylor receive a yellow card deep in his half. The lineout faltered for Bangor and from the scrum Ards scrumhalf Fullwood broke blind and offloaded to McBurney who broke with pace and power. A penalty was then awarded for a Bangor offside, the quick thinking Cox saw space, tapped and ran in from 30yards untouched for his brace, which he duly converted.

Ards 56 v Bangor 5

Not to be perturbed, Bangor stuck manfully to their task with some great phase play. However, Ards were showing their dominance and a spoiled lineout was recovered by the evergreen Davey Reid. The ruck was won and the ball went to Lewis Gordon. His drive was followed by a great carry from Oren Kisby. The ball was released to the backs and May was in for his brace out wide. A first missed conversion by Cox from a difficult angle saw Ards over 60 points.

Ards 61 v Bangor 5

At this point most teams would have packed up and went home, but a scrum midfield saw the Bangor no8 pick up, a wrap round move saw the speedy Bangor centre fly around the Ards defence and under the posts for a converted try.

Ards 61 v Bangor 12

Ards mistakes then allowed the Bangor backs to move up the pitch and the same speedy centre was in for his second.

Ards 61 v Bangor 17

An Ards lineout out saw Kristian Wallis McKimm in his first match of the season soar, win the ball and provide off the top ball to Fullwood who moved the ball onto Cox who released the rampaging Kisby to break through the defence and offload to David Chivers for an unconverted score.

Ards 66 v Bangor 17

Bangor although well beaten, knew their day would not be in vain if they got one more try. Some lazy play from Ards and a stripped ball in the midfield saw the Bangor winger in for a bonus point. Well done Bangor for hanging in and coming away with the point.

Final score: Ards 66 v Bangor 22

Overall a brilliant team performance, with some individuals really playing at the top of their game. It was disappointing to give our local rivals a bonus point, but the 3rds move onto another big derby away to Donaghadee this Saturday in which will be another fiercely contested battle.