Under 20 League Ards 3 Ballymena 25

It was disappointing for the Ards under 20s coach Brian Faloon to have only

13 players available for this game after a squad of over twenty players turned

up for the previous game against Ballyclare under 20s. Both teams had suffered

narrow defeats to the Ballyclare team in their opening fixtures. Despite the disadvantage

in numbers the Ards team more than matched their opponents in territory and possession

in the first half with Ballymena leading 12 - 3 at half time after scoring two tries one of which

they converted in reply to a Jamie lemon penalty for Ards. The second half was again keenly

contested by the Ards team who conceded two further unconverted tries from breakaways

and a penalty to leave Ballymena  winners by 25 - 3. With fifteen players the Ards team would

have pushed the  Ballymena team all the way in this match. Once again several players let the

rest of the squad down by not informing coach Brian Faloon that they were unavailable for this

match. Hopefully Brian will have a full squad at his disposal for this wednesday nights match at

Jordanstown. The unavailability of key under 20 players Conor Piper and Kyle Kirkpatrick due to

All Ireland commitments with the firsts  has  weakened the Under 20s ability to compete in this

league along with the injured Jonny Dawson.
Ards team !. Jonny Millar, 2. Paul McMenamin, 3. David Weir, 4. Richard  Millar, 5. Matthew Weir,

6. Phil Jordan, 7. Kenny Mussett, 9. Matthew mcHenry, 10. jamie Lemon, 11.Jay MacKenzie,

12 Jamie Cardwell, 13. Andrew Findlater, 15 David Armstrong.

                                                                                                                                                 Ulster U20s League Table    

Provisionally the league will commence on Wednesday the 14th November. Ards have been drawn in the same group as

Ballymena, Ballyclare, Ulster University Jordanstown, Queens, Malone and Bangor.

Players are asked to keep in touch with Ards Under 20 coach Brian Faloon

Forwards.
Davy Weir, Ben Logan, Simon Cavan, Jonny Millar, Jonny Dawson, Nathan McCall, Ross Torney,

Kenny Mussett, Philip Jordan, Conor Piper, Matthew Kynes, Peter Heron, Mark McCavery, Mark Bingham

, Paul McMenamin Unavailable due to inury Nathan McLoughlin and Daniel McTernan.
Backs
Matthew McHenry, Jamie Lemon, Jamie Cardwell, Andrew Findlater, David Armstrong, Daniel Leebody,

Peter McLean, Matthew Boyce, Jason Cummings, Johnny Dougherty, Marty Robinson. Kyle Kirkpatrick N/A

Under 20 League Ards 7 Ballyclare 12

Spectators were treated to an entertaining game under the lights at Hamilton Park last Wednesday

night with the result in doubt right up to the final whistle.
Ballyclare dominated the early exchanges and were rewarded with a unconverted

try to take a 5 - 0 lead. An injury to Ards scrum half Peter McLean allowed Jamie Cardwell

to move into scrum half to partner out half Jamie Lemon.This change had the desired effect in the

damp conditions with

Jamie Lemon being given the space to display his ability to open up the well organised ballyclare defence.

The Ards forwards had played themselves deep into the Ballyclare twenty two when quick ball allowed

Jamie Lemon to cut through and score an excellent try with Ards flanker Kenny Mussett

adding the points to give Ards the lead by 7 - 5. With both teams battling for possession

and territory it was Ballyclare who who scored what proved to be the decisive converted try on the

half time whistle to lead by 12 - 7.
The second half was eagerly contested by both sides with Ards second row Jonny Dawson particularly prominent.

The loss of Ards out half Jamie Lemon in the second half proved decisive as he

was the one player who could open up the Ballyclare defence.

Despite a last ditch decisive effort by Ards to secure that all important try the

Ballyclare team held out for a narrow win. The under twenties next fixture will be at home to Ballymena on

Wednesday the 12th December.
Congratulations to Ards coaches Brian Faloon and Stevie Nutt who had a squad of

21 players available for this match despite the unavailability of several other key players.

Training continues for the Under 20s every Monday night at 6.45PM.
Ards team 1.Jonny Millar, 2. Ben Logan, 3. Simon Cavan, 4. Nathan McCall, 5. Jonny Dawson,

6. Matthew Kynes, 7. Kenny Mussett, 8. Mark McCavery, 9. Peter McLean, 10. Jamie Lemon,

11. Matthew McHenry, 12, Jamie Cardwell, 13. Andrew Findlater, 14. Jason Cummings,

15. David Armstrong.
Replacements Mark Bingham, Ross Torney, Matthew Boyce, Marty Robinson, Philip Jordan.

(all used during the match).