The UAE laboured to victory in their sole international fixture of the 2017/18 season, beating visiting Gibraltar 28-15 in Dubai on Friday night.
Apollo Perelini’s hosts always looked in control of the tourists, taking a lead inside the opening 10 minutes that they never really looked like relinquishing.
But they could never quite break free from spirited opponents, who hit back with two tries of their own, one in each half.
At the end of a grueling season, fatigue and increasingly warm weather conditions would not have suited either side at Dubai Sports City.
“It was a frustrating game, they blitzed us and were aggressive at the breakdown and we didn’t react quickly enough,” said UAE debutant Ross Samson, of Jebel Ali Dragons.
“The breakdown was a mess and therefore the game was stop-start, there were lots of turnovers and lots of mistakes from both teams.
“It was good to get the win but we could have played a lot better with the quality we have got in the squad.”
UAE coach Apollo Perelini.
All four of the UAE’s tries were scored by their seven-strong Dubai Exiles contingent, with rampaging hooker Gio Fourie powering over early on, his try converted by Exiles colleague and former Italy ‘A’ fly-half Durandt Gerber – with both players also making their UAE bows.
Chuqi Cruz got Gibraltar on the board with a penalty to make it 7-3 before Exiles prop Lukas Waddington was penalised for holding on as the UAE looked likely to stretch their lead.
They did so a few minutes later with a second try, Gerber cutting a fine line to burst through under the posts and converting his effort to make it 14-3.
But the visitors reduced the deficit to four at the interval with a fine try of their own, flanker Mike Milward getting the score after a flowing move through the UAE midfield.
With energy levels sapped in the second half, there was plenty of industry without much end product. But Perelini’s men went 21-10 up when Number 8 Jaen Botes rumbled over, Gerber again potting the extras.
Boys with @uaerugby Coach @Apollo11Rugby Good Luck Coach and UAE pic.twitter.com/gqRaWIkjwZ
— Yousuf Shaker 🇦🇪 (@uae_yas) 27 April 2018
They saved the best for last when Thinus Steyn’s show and go out wide on the right following a turnover saw the Exiles full-back steam in from 70 yards inside the final 10 minutes, Gerber’s conversion making the game safe at 28-10.
But the men from the Rock had the final word when replacement Aidan Beazley touched down following a forward drive in the dying embers of the game.
That’s it now for the UAE and indeed the domestic rugby season, with the UAE Rugby Federation deciding not to participate in June’s Asia Rugby Championship Division I in the Philippines.
Sharjah 10s
Meanwhile, there was an abrupt end to the final domestic tournament of the UAE rugby season, with the famous Sharjah 10s tournament called off after an RAK Rugby vets player was taken to hospital following an in-game injury on Friday.
The player reportedly had to be resuscitated after being knocked out, with organisers confirming the match was called off following the incident. Shane Breen, chairman of Sharjah Wanderers – tournament hosts – said: “There was a serious injury in a game played on pitch two and the player is currently in hospital and we’re waiting to hear back on his condition. We’re also awaiting an incident report from the referees who were present.”
