Bahrain coach Michael Reid returned to haunt the Jebel Ali Dragons as the reigning champions fell 33-26, while Abu Dhabi Saracens pulled off a well-earned 21-18 win over the Dubai Hurricanes.
A frustrating Jebel Ali Dragons let slip a five-point lead with 20 minutes to go to fall back in the Gulf Top Six standings.
Reid, formerly a coach with the Dragons’ senior team, was glad to put one over his old mates.
“The effort and the guts the guys showed was brilliant,” the Bahrain boss told Sport360°. “They’re a quality Dragons team and as a former Dragon it felt good to come here and knock them over.”
Bahrain took an early lead through the boot of Adam Wallace before Jebel Ali scored a superb converted try through Ross Sampson’s knifing run 20 minutes in.
The Dragons’ indiscipline allowed Wallace to kick a pair of penalties to regain the lead at 9-7 before the hosts scored an impressive unconverted try by Sean Crombie.
The visitors though clawed their way back to take a half time lead of 21-12 through a pair of tries from Olly Hunt and Arron Dalgarno.
Dragons winger Ian Overton then sliced his way through for a superb solo effort eight minutes after the restart before another breaking run set up Ryno Fourie for a converted try that moved the Dragons into a 26-21 lead with 20 minutes on the clock.
A pair of tries from Tom Jankowski and Sam Wilson crushed home spirits however, leaving Bahrain winners and Dragons coach Ross Mills scratching his head for the second week in a row.
“We knew it would be tough,” said Mills. “We just didn’t play, don’t know why.”
Elsewhere, the Abu Dhabi Saracens finally grabbed their first win of the campaign, with a pair of new boys leading the way.
Josh Sharp and James Tirrell made their debuts after coming over via a link up between Abu Dhabi and the UK-based Saracens team, making the crucial difference with the former kicking three penalties and a conversion while the latter scored a try, along with Nathan Ramsey.
In Abu Dhabi, leaders Harlequins all-but secured home advantage in April 4’s grand final with a six-try 42-0 demolition of Doha at Zayed Sports City.
Fijian winger Rob Buaserau was the star of the show for Quins as he crossed the whitewash twice.
RESULTS
Jebel Ali Dragons 26-33 Bahrain
Dubai Hurricanes 18-21 AD Saracens
AD Harlequins 42-0 Doha
