With Ards sitting well above Bangor in the league, and still in the hunt for a top league position, the visitors started the game as favourites. However, during the first twenty minutes the game was evenly balanced, with most of the play taking place in the centre of the pitch. In terms of attack, Ards had the upper hand, but this was cancelled out by determined tackling and good defensive cover by Bangor.

The first scoring opportunity came after 22 minutes when Ards were awarded a penalty in front of the Bangor posts, but the kick went wide. Although their place kicking was suspect, the Ards positional kicking from hand was excellent, and from a later penalty used this to take play deep into Bangor’s twenty two for an attacking lineout. From this, they formed a driving maul and although the Bangor forwards managed to halt its movement, an Ards player peeled off and drove over for the first try of the evening. The conversion was missed, making the score 0-5.

With no further score in the first half, and Bangor proving themselves dominant in the scrums and forward play in general, the home side were still very much in the game as the teams turned around for the second half.

Within 10 minutes of the restart, Ards had won another penalty inside Bangor’s twenty two, but again the kick was missed. Relieved by this let off, Bangor lifted their game and shortly afterwards had an attacking scrum inside the Ards twenty two. Although the scrum was disrupted by an improved Ards pack, the loose ball was picked up by Charlie Clegg who made a break for the line and just managed to stretch over to score. The conversion was successfully taken, putting Bangor ahead by 7-5 with 15 minutes of play remaining.

Within 5 minutes, a Bangor penalty didn’t make touch allowing the fast Ards back line to run the ball right back. Although Bangor doubled back to cover this attack, a couple of missed tackles provided the space for Ards to cut through and score to the right of Bangor’s posts. Ards’ kicking woe continued with another missed kicking opportunity, but they were now back in front by 7-10.

Although only 3 points behind, Bangor seemed unable to produce the telling push when needed, and combined with some tiring legs, succumbed to a period of sustained Ards pressure in the closing minutes to fall further behind through another Ards try, this time converted successfully, bringing the final score to 7-17.