Referee Michael Broderick was the busiest man on the field as he sent off one and sent eight more to the sin-bin in a manic top of the table UAE Conference clash between Dubai Exiles 2nds and Jebel Ali Dragons 2nds.
Dragons won 27-19 at The Sevens to make it eight wins from eight and take a firm grip on the Conference, but that played second fiddle to the constant stream of players to the bin in a haphazard second half and Broderick’s control of it.
When Dragons hooker Ben Pryor was sent off for a dangerous high tackle midway through the second period, Dragons were down to 11 men with three other players already in the sin bin.
Their disadvantage provided a lifeline to Exiles, and when Janneman Venter dived over to make lave his side trailing just 22-19 there seemed only one winner.
However, UAE international Ryno Fourie stretched Dragons’ lead almost immediately with a killer try and Robbie Cameron’s men held on for a “special” victory.
“It was a grind but sometimes you have to grind out games and today we did that better than them,” said the Scotsman.
“It’s special. It’s a nice early Christmas present. It was tough but I think we deserved it overall. I think we underestimated them in the first 20 minutes, we were asleep, but we are a good side and we came back.
“We stuck in there and James Elliot Square kept us ahead with his boot. While others around him were losing their heads he kept his and that’s what he’s in the team for. He’s probably the best kicker at the club. We’ve got eight out of eight and I’m really proud of the boys.”
For Exiles, who also saw Tomas Sackman and Chris Riding stretchered off with neck injuries, it was a first defeat in seven, but Gareth Venter believes his side will come back stronger.
“No-one likes losing but we’ll learn from it,” he said.
“We showed a lot of heart and the boys did the Exiles badge proud. I think that will give them confidence. Sometimes you have to lose to learn from it. There’s still a lot of rugby left and the boys will go away for Christmas now and come back stronger in the new year.”
Exiles lead early on through Australian No8 Nathan Watts try but, after missing an early sighter, Elliot Square’s metronomic boot became the difference between the sides.
He reduced the deficit with two penalties before converting former Al Ain Amblers man Niko Volavola’s try and adding another three-pointer as Dragons led 16-7 at the interval.
He added another two as Dragons took command of proceedings, although Pryor’s dismissal in the 68th minute meant seven players had fallen foul of the referee in under 30 second half minutes.
Exiles closed the gap with Neil Du Preez and Venter tries but Fourie, who had earlier seen yellow, scored to edge Dragons clear as the league leaders held on.
