Dubai Exiles beat Abu Dhabi Harlequins to extend dramatic West Asia Premiership season

Matt Jones - Editor 16:16 25/02/2018
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  • Kristian Stinson (r) will bring the curtain down on his playing career after the UAE's Test against Gibraltar.

    Dubai Exiles ensured the West Asia Premiership title will likely go down to the very last week of the season as they beat Abu Dhabi Harlequins in the latest installment of a dramatic campaign.

    For all the twists and turns of the 2017/18 season so far, victory for Quins would likely have handed the reigning champions their trophy back – with city rivals Saracens and rock bottom Dubai Eagles their final two opponents.

    Instead, Exiles roared to a 37-30 win at The Sevens – although a last-gasp penalty from the visitors secured them a losing bonus point, which means they picked up two as they also scored four tries, so Mike McFarlane’s men are still probably favourites.

    Bonus-point wins for the other two title challengers – Jebel Ali Dragons put Sarries to the sword with an 80-0 demolition while Bahrain blitzed Dubai Hurricanes 59-21 – have seen the top four bunched incredibly tightly, just three points separating them all.

    And while the others have two games remaining, Exiles only have one. But Jacques Benade’s side can at least be content with securing their place in the UAE Premiership final – Dragons and Quins scrapping to face them.

    Big wins this year against Dragons and now Quins have seen Exiles shine when it has mattered. Prop Kristian Stinson insisted their resurgence was sparked by their Dubai Sevens-victory over Dragons in December.

    “It all comes back to the Sevens. We win that then boys start getting on and the wins have been through teamwork,” said the Northern Irish prop.

    “We lost a lot of games by a few points and now we’re winning them and puling each other through. We’ve gone from last year’s laughing stock to winning the Sevens, being in two finals and claiming a top four spot – so it’s some turnaround.”

    As well as making the UAE Premiership final, Exiles secured a berth in the West Asia Cup final a few weeks ago – where they will play Quins – and Friday’s win ensures they could possibly end the season with four trophies.

    Abu Dhabi Harlequins and Dubai Exiles players clashing last season (Chris Whiteoak).

    Abu Dhabi Harlequins and Dubai Exiles players clashing last season (Chris Whiteoak).

    And it was down to Stinson and his fellow forwards as to why four trophies remains a possibility.

    “The forwards stepped up and dominated their pack,” said Stinson, whose team led 24-10 at the break.

    It could have been 31-5 had they finished off a move while camped on Quins’ line. But they threw the opportunity away and Quins ran the length of the field to close the gap to 14 points and put the pressure on.

    “We went in as underdogs. We haven’t had a good record against them at all recently but I think that gave us motivation,” said Stinson, who was thankful Quins fly-half Luke Stevenson suffered a rare off day.

    “They came back into it but Luke missed a lot of kicks, which is very unlike him, (scrum-half Andrew) Semple took over. Then in the second half we were grinding in defence. It was feisty. It was some game. They weren’t at the races first half.”

    One forward in-particular who had an impact for Exiles was second row Thomas Sackmann. He scored two tries as an auxiliary winger, after full-back Thinus Steyn pulled out before kick-off with injury.

    Friday’s reults:

    Dubai Exiles 37 Abu Dhabi Harlequins 30

    Jebel Ali Dragons 80 Abu Dhabi Saracens 0

    Bahrain 59 Dubai Hurricanes 21

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