It had been a few years since Ards and Bangor had sparred against each other and so it was with much anticipation that the 2 neighbours came into battle once more.

Bangor came into the match with a good pre season under their belts and their form from last year, where they only lost 1 of their last 8 games, sparked some confidence in the home side.

It was a much younger side even than last year that started the game, with the average age of the starting pack only 23 and the average for the backs being just over 22!!

Unfortunately our normal scribe, pr guru, photographer extraordinaire and all round media genius Roger Corbett was away on Saturday so we don't have the usual awesome report.

Suffice to say this:

It was a great days craic had by all alicakadoos off the pitch, before and after the game, and something which is missed on both sides I think. we have it so good with Donagahadee these days, it is a shame we cant continue the same thing with Ards on a regular basis.

On the field, there was some great periods of play from both sides, from the Bangor standpoint, there was a few silly errors that gifted Ards a couple of soft scores, but there is plenty of time to put that right before the first league game.

But on a positive, if we get our defensive systems corrected, which I am sure we will, and we continue to score the types of tries we do, from all facets of the game: we had a break away, a driving maul, some nice hands and some good turnover ball resulting in tries, then I think the ambition that exudes from the club at the moment can be fulfilled in the coming season.

Final score was 42 -29 to Bangor.

Good luck to Ards in the coming season and we hope to see you all next year in one guise or another (hopefully both in AIL!!!)