Banbridge Rugby Club - Northern Ireland

Ards were more positive in the opening 10 minute period and can count themselves unlucky not to have registered a try when they were held up over the line on three separate occasions, with Bann not seeming to get out of first gear to fully relieve their lines.

However it was Bann who registered the first points, debutant Jake Fisher slotting over from 25 metres after Ards were penalised for having a lazy runner when the home team were threatening for the first time from quick ruck ball.

After 25 minutes, Bann doubled their lead through a penalty from out-half John Ferris, this time awarded when the visitors were caught offside after Bann forged forward from an initial break by Ferris himself.

Although Bann were showing dominance in the forwards and most notably at the set scrum, they were not able to produce any fluent link to their backline. They therefore elected to keep the scoreboard ticking over with another Ferris penalty effort five minutes from the interval.

The half time team talk highlighted the lack of urgency in play, and it took only two minutes from the restart for them to respond. A powerful drive by Sam Boyd was well supported by Ferris and Nelson Shanks whose slick passing brought play into the "22" where Ards were again forced to concede a penalty in front of the posts. Ferris slotted over to move Bann into a 12-0 lead.

Ferris was again on target 10 minutes later, thus allowing the home team a lead to play with even though they were not firing on all cylinders. Four minutes later the comfort cushion of the scoreline told when Ferris opened up the defence with a neat chip which was collected by Andy Baird. The quick support of captain Geoff Thompson gained more yardage before he fed Fisher. Unfortunately the supporting pack knocked on five metres out. Not to be deterred, the pack surged forward and took the ball at ease against the head, and with Ards expecting a pushover, Sam Boyd was able to pick up and barge through the defender for a well-taken try. Ferris was just off target with the conversion attempt.

Seven minutes later and Bann crossed the line again. A quick tap was called off a free kick near the half way line, and Lee Allen started the surge forward. When he was stopped, his strength allowed the off-load to Michael McKee, and the burly forward took the drive even further on. Again it was another tight five forward in prop James McCrum who received the ball and showed great strength in finishing. Ferris moved the score on to 27-0 with the conversion.

Bann failed to build on their lead and apart from sporadic forays towards the line, they were being kept in the middle of the park by a spirited Ards team. The glimpses of interplay in the backs eventually paid off when the other debutant, winger Chris Craig, finished off a slick move. Again it was Thompson who made the break and found Boyd. His strength provided the gap on the touchline for the winger to collect and race in for the try.

Ahead at 32 - 0, Bann will have been bitterly disappointed to allow the visitors to score a converted try, but this was a fitting reward for an Ards team that never showed any frustration, even when decisions didn't seem to go their way.

On a day when most of the Bann team would acknowledge that they played below par, the comforting factor is that they can still produce a result, although the next two games should be much tighter affairs.

Although there were good performances in the backs from Adam Waugh, Ferris and Thompson, it was the back row trio of Jonny McKim, Baird and Boyd who stood out, with the latter just getting the nod for his second man-of-the-match award in a row.