Jebel Ali Dragons came from behind in a thrilling match with Abu Dhabi Saracens to all but secure their place in the West Asia Cup Final.
The Dragons trailed 14-0 shortly after the break to their ever-improving hosts, but secured a tight 27-19 victory thanks to four second-half tries from Sean Crombie, Imad Reyal (2) and Joe Cooper.
The bonus-point Gulf Top Six win means they are now nine points ahead of third-placed Bahrain, who still have two games to play compared to Dragons one, a home tie against Dubai Hurricanes on March 21.
“For me, it was my most satisfying victory this season as with 25 minutes to go we were 14-0 down. A lot of other teams would have folded,” Jebel Ali coach Ross Mills told Sport360°.
“The lads went back to our structures. When we start doing that, there are not many teams – if any – who can live with us.
“If we beat the Canes, we will be in the final, hopefully. It is a final, and everyone knows we have a habit of winning those matches.”
The Saracens – who started with talismanic former captain Lele Tusitala on the bench despite his retirement last year with an arm injury – burst into a deserved early lead through John Coutts’ break. The bottom-placed side then doubled their advantage when Xavier Bauwmans swept up a loose ball to burst clear.
Mills’ side have already triumphed in the UAE Premiership and Sevens competitions and this ability was on show as Sean Crombie barrelled in for the Dragons’ first.
Imad Reyal opened his account for the day with a sensational try that began with him picking the ball up deep in his own half and giant lock Joe Cooper powering through the line.
The see-saw nature of the match immediately came back to the fore as Saracens interim player/coach James Tirrell found space close to the line to draw his team level.
Dragons were not to be denied, however, and Reyal showed his predatory instinct to finish with a flamboyant swan-dive after being set up from close range by scheming fly-half Murray Strang.
The result ensured Tirrell, who returned to the UK immediately after the game, ended his promising spell at Saracens with a record of two defeats and a historic club-first Gulf Top Six win.
The scrum-half refused to be drawn on his future saying: “My future is undecided. I have a team back home [Letchworth Garden City], who I am quite loyal to.”
