Despite the efforts of Storm Gertrude, the Upritchard Park pitch was in good form, and with unexpectedly clear skies, Bangor kicked off with the breeze mostly across the pitch, but also favouring Ards in this opening period. The only changes to Bangor’s team from last week’s win against Ballymena were Andrew Jackson at hooker, Davy Charles on the wing and Rob Gamble at outside centre. In similar fashion to the earlier meeting between these two sides, Ards started brightly, but found the Bangor pack in dominant form. In fact, Bangor had learned from the earlier fixture where slack play allowed Ards to race into a 10 point lead, and soon started to build on their advantage in the forwards. With just 9 minutes played, Bangor were awarded a penalty which Jason Morgan kicked to touch, close to the Ards 5 metre line. The lineout was cleanly taken by Darren Kelly before a driving maul was formed. With the ball now in Jamie Clegg’s hands, the maul was driven over the line for the first score of the day, putting Bangor 5-0 ahead.

The combination of cold hands and a difficult cross-wind contributed to several handling mistakes by both sides, causing many backline moves to break down. However, the forwards continued to pile on the pressure in both the scrums and, in an improvement on earlier games, the lineouts. This proved valuable once again after 19 minutes when Clegg scored his second try of the game in almost identical circumstances to his first. Again the conversion was missed, but Bangor were now 10-0 ahead.

As the game progressed, so the players seemed to adapt to the conditions, with Bangor starting to run at the Ards defence rather than passing the ball across the backs. This approach was best demonstrated by Morgan when he collected the ball close to the Ards 10 metre line. Having slipped the first tackle, he had the option of passing to his right to Davy Charles and Adam McCusker who were in close support. However, he chose the direct route himself and, with several ‘show and go’ moves, he cut through the defence before diving over for an excellent individual try. The conversion was successfully kicked by Mark Widdowson, extending the lead to 17-0.

With the try-scoring bonus point now well within sight, Bangor piled on the pressure and, as the first half drew to a close, they were rewarded with a penalty on the Ards 5 metre line. With the Ards second row forward having received a yellow card for his part in the infringement, and with not enough time to kick for a lineout, Bangor opted for the scrum. However, the Ards pack dug in and halted the Bangor drive. Clegg at the back of the scrum picked up and made for the line himself, but was stopped again. Bangor showed remarkable patience in keeping the ball alive for several phases afterwards before Rob Gamble crashed over from short range to get the all-important fourth try. Although the conversion was missed, Bangor were now 22-0 ahead as the referee blew for half time.

Ards produced some of their best rugby in the opening quarter of the second half. Better movement and passing saw them take the game to Bangor on several occasions, only to be denied by some solid work by Bangor in turning the ball over in contact. In fact it was not until 23 minutes of the second half had elapsed before one of these turnovers was quickly exploited by getting the ball to Morgan who found space on the right wing, before running in unhindered to score his second try of the day. Widdowson’s difficult touchline conversion came close but rebounded off the upright.

This score seemed to spur the home side on again and, just 6 minutes later, a clever inside pass from Jason Guthrie, put David Bradford through to score close to the posts. Widdowson made no mistake with the conversion to put Bangor 34-0 ahead.

Although Ards came close to scoring a consolation try in the closing minutes, Bangor defended well to retain their clean sheet.
Bangor’s next hurdle is an away league fixture at Dromore, who gave Instonians a tough game and denied them a bonus point win. No doubt Bangor will want to reverse their poor performance at Barban Hill last year, and record a result that will consolidate their narrow lead at the top of the league table.

Bangor team: O McIlmurry, A Jackson, P Whyte, M Ferguson, D Kelly, C Burton, D Bradford, J Clegg (c), J Guthrie, J Morgan, M Widdowson, M Weir, R Gamble, D Charles, A McCusker

Subs: D Caughey, R McCloskey

Bangor scorers: J Clegg (2T), J Morgan (2T), R Gamble (1T), D Bradford (1T), M Widdowson (2C)