A dream season for Abu Dhabi Harlequins Under-13s team enjoyed a fairytale ending as they overcame Dubai Exiles 29-20 in a thrilling UAE Rugby Federation U13s Final.
The game, played on Friday, April 17, produced a fine win for the youngsters, who won the final for the first time and toppled an Exiles side that has won every single game they have played in the last four years.
The triumph neatly bookends a season that began with success, winning the Cup competition at the Etihad Airways Abu Dhabi Harlequins Junior Rugby Festival in October.
There is an old rugby adage that forwards win matches, and the backs decide by how much, and never was a truer word spoken than in the final, held at Zayed Sports City.
Of the five try scorers though, four were forwards, a signal of intent shown minutes into the encounter when prop Teoman Demirci crashed over the try line.
The conversion was added and, for the first time in recent history, Quins had seized a 7-0 lead over Exiles.
Over the next 60 minutes it was a lead they simply refused to relinquish, albeit they had to withstand a mighty effort from their opponents.
Exiles, unbeaten in any game in any format for the past four years, were never going to let their record pass lightly into the night.
They scored three tries out wide but were always playing catch up and Quins, with an abundance of attacking options, hit back with interest every time.
Quins always looked dangerous and their second try typified the performance from the backs.
The attack was launched from within their own half, the ball went from one side of the pitch to the other and ended with left wing Essam Ghosheh diving over in the corner.
The tight five asserted themselves well and Demirci’s fellow prop Gabriel Newland also touched down.
Those that have followed the side this season have become accustomed to rampaging performances from the loose forwards, and in this game they were rewarded with two tries of their own, both worked from attacking set pieces that cut through Exiles’ defence like a blow torch through butter, flanker Milo Bly and No8 Elliot the recipients.
The victory was a fairytale swan song for four of the team’s longest serving players, including Ben Burridge, Conor Duggan, Gabe Newland and Shane Duggan, who are all leaving Quins for new horizons.
Quins Head Coach Dominic Whiting said: “For years now the Dubai Exiles have set the standard for rugby in the UAE, and at last this year we've managed to match it.
“I've some exceptionally talented players in the squad, who couldn't have executed our plans any better. The desire and confidence the boys have shown today has been absolutely exceptional.
“It was a supreme team performance, but then it had to be to beat this opposition whose record shows what class they have.”
Team Manager Dorian Digby-Johns added: “In the previous two seasons this age group has failed to win any of their league matches, which has been heartbreaking. Now we have turned that record around completely and won the league outright.
“I think this goes to show that although you enjoy your wins, it’s your losses you can really learn from.”
