Ards under 14s enjoyed a five day Easter tour to Leicestershire returning with two impressive victories over top Leicester sides. A total of 29 players from 11 different local schools left Belfast City Airport in anticipation and excitement for Birmingham.

Market Bosworth 12-17 Ards

Ards arrived at Market Bosworth for their first match to learn that they were to play the undefeated and county campions, but the young Ards side were up for the challenge.

The home side build up an early lead with a converted try and displayed superb defending as Ards came back strong with fly/half and captain Richard Aston pinning their hosts on their try line.

Ards beefed up their pack at half-time but as in the first half they conceded an early try to go 12-0 behind. Ards lifted their game in true Ards spirit and began to dominate for long periods and were rewarded when, following a five metre scrum, Matthew Hunter crashed over before Conran Steward went in at the corner Aston kicked the difficult conversion to tie the scores 12-12. It required something special to crack the English Champions and it came five minutes from time when Brett Cowan carried deep into the 22 before offloading to J.D.Allen for a winning try.

It was a happy bus load of Ards men who left for Welford Road to see Leicester Tigers beat Stade Francais Paris in the Heineken Cup quarter final.The Ards players were allowed on to the pitch and got to meet some of the players,

Leicester Lions 17-25 Ards

After a day at Alton Towers and a professional coaching session by Leicester Tigers Academy staff the Ards players were determined to end the tour with a win.

Their had to dig deep with all players giving everything to overcome a well-drilled Leicester Lions team. The psyched up Ards players started well keeping the ball amongst the forwards and opened the scoring when Matthew Wallace drove over for an unconverted try. The Lions brought their back-line into play with great effect crossing the Ards line twice inside the next ten minutes to take the lead 12-5.

Forward drives from Curtis Nutt,Daniel Whitla and Andy Petland penetrated the Lions defence,wing forward Darren Kelly was in support to take the offload and score a try to leave the half-time score 12-10 to the Lions.

The Lions back line was an intimidating force throughout the entire match, full-blooded try saving tackles from Andy Savage and Adam Garland kept them from scoring and lifted the Ards team.

Darren Kelly, who had a tremendous match, picked-up at a ruck to score his second try and make the score 15-12 to Ards.  Scrum half Stuart Campbell kept his team going forward at the set pieces and popped a pass to Conran Steward. There was no stopping the powerful prop forward as Ards stretched their lead to 20-12.

 The Lions response was quick with a well finished try to make the score 20-17 to Ards with five minutes left. Ards defended superbly and held their discipline as the Lions came at them in waves. From a 10 metre scrum Matthew Wallace plunged over from a forward drive to secure an electrically charged victory 25-17.

The Ards players and coaches would like to thank all who made these tour possible Murdock builder’s merchants, Castlebawn, parent fund raising committee, Ian’s School of Motoring and Ards District Council, in particular the Mayor Angus Carson who supplied the team with plagues of the borough which were presented to our host clubs. A DVD has been produced of the tour and will be viewed at the end of season u14 sevens matches.