Hi °C | Lo °C In the Ulster under age leagues, Ards travelled to Judges Road to play their Derry counterparts with the home team winning the Under 16 and Under 14 matches, while Ards just shaded the Under 18 game.
In the Under 18 match, Ards with a late penalty won out by 24-20 after Derry had hit back when they were 21-8 down to narrow the score to 21-20.
Ards took the lead after 10 minutes when they scored a converted try. Six minutes later Ards had their second score when their quick thinking scrum-half took a quick penalty on his 22 and with great pace raced the length of the field for a converted try and a 14-0 scoreline. Derry came more into the game and were rewarded with a penalty from centre Leigh Brown. Then Niall Parke crossed for a try to leave Derry trailing 14-8 at half-time.
Ards again started strongly and were rewarded when their winger went over in the corner with the full back striking a superb conversion to put Ards 21-8 ahead.
The Judges Road team then raised their game with skipper Eamon McIvor using his strength to power over, with Brown converting, and then after a flowing move winger Peter Cavanagh had a great run to dive over and narrow the deficit to one point.
Ards had the final say with that late penalty to complete the scoring and give them the points.
The Derry Under 16 team had a great result in beating a very strong Ards outfit by 24-17.
Derry were first to score with a try by Aidan McKeown, who converted his own score, and five minutes later the talented scrum half Stewart Simpson broke from his 22, and tore the Ards defence to shreds on his way to the line with McKeown converting for a 14-0 lead.
Ards then got on the scoresheet with a converted score.
Derry's third try came from a long kick by Ards which Derry full back Kevin Mitchell fielded and he evaded several tackles on his way to the line and give Derry a 19-7 half-time lead.
In the second half there was a 20 minute delay after a neck injury to an Ards player.
On the restart Derry had their fourth touchdown from Gary Smyth, but Ards responded with a converted try and a penalty to leave Derry winners 24-17.
In the Under 14 match Ards arrived with only 12 players so Derry agreed to play with a similar number, but would use all 15 players during the game.
Derry were too strong and won out 59-17, scoring nine tries, seven of which were converted, with Ards' points coming from two converted tries and a penalty.
