Ards hold on to win again

Rugby – AIB League

Ards 16 : 9 Portadown

Roy Lawton reports

Ards won their second AIB League game in succession on Saturday, when they defeated Portadown, in what was a vastly improved team performance.

Michael Lawton scored all Ards points with two fine penalty conversion before a dramatic try before half time. Lawton, on the 22, down the right wing pinned back his ears and skilfully outpaced two covering defenders, to round off a great team effort and score a well worked try in the corner, which he then converted.

In the second half Portadown had their tails well up and on 58 minutes added another three points to their tally with a well taken penalty. The game was now finely balanced on a knife edge and had a familiar look about it as the Naas game the week before, when the opposition managed to claw back points late on in the game and almost ruin the Ards party.

A frantic final 5 minutes into stoppage time, and Portadown unleashed everything they had in a vain attempt to cross the Ards try line and rescue their day. But by now they were running on fumes, as there was nothing left in the tank. The Ards defence was able to hold firm until the final whistle whereby every player appeared to sink to their knees with a mixture of exhaustion and relief.