Quins U-13s come from behind to lift junior festival trophy

[email protected] 07:55 19/10/2014
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  • Cup drought over: The Abu Dhabi Harlequins U-13 team have waited five years to win their first Cup final. Hugely impressed: Ugo Monye. Fun and games: Junior tournament.

    Abu Dhabi Harlequins Under-13s followed in the footsteps of their senior U18 counterparts by win­ning the Cup competition at the Etihad Airways Abu Dhabi Har­lequins Junior Rugby Festival at Zayed Sports City yesterday.

    The hosts were twice behind Dubai Hurricanes in the final, before a cameo off the bench from tonsillitis-stricken Milo Bly turned the game in his side’s favour.

    Quins were trailing at 12-5 and 17-12 before a late double sealed a dramatic 22-17 win.

    Elliot Brock was also instrumen­tal during the final and his try was the game-clincher.

    Ben Burridge, Marko Prinsloo and Shane Dug­gan also touched down for Quins.

    Coach Dominic Whiting said: “Milo had been ill all weekend really, especially yesterday, and he wasn’t well today, but he came off the bench with three minutes to go and changed the game.”

    The win was especially poignant as this age group had never won a Cup in any previous tournament and had only won one Plate in five years together.

    Whiting added: “I’ve been around for five years and it’s the first Cup we’ve won.

    “There were lots of tears from parents at the end and it was even more special because this was the first time the boys had played full pitch.”

    To crown the victory, Harlequins 2nds also won the U13 Bowl compe­tition.

    The rest of Quins’ winning team included Luke Milward, Connor Gammel, Ben Burridge, Marcus Digby-Johns, Tadgh Walsh and Essam Ghosheh.

    There was also a fairytale ending for one young Doha rugby player when he collected a special award.

    Under-13s player George Gough was left heartbroken and in severe pain after he broke his arm in Doha’s semi-final win in the Plate competition.

    His team-mates went on to claim the Plate trophy in George’s honour with a comfortable 24-0 victory over Muscat Pirates.

    While the 12-year-old would have been devastated to miss out on the final, there was some silver lining at the presentation ceremony. The youngster was awarded the tourna­ment’s fair play accolade.

    Jason Morris, Doha vice chair­man and organiser of the club’s minis section, said: “George broke his arm in the semi-final but I have to say he was treated excellently.

    “He was taken by ambulance to hospital and he’s now well and will be coming home on the flight with the rest of his team-mates tonight.

    “Players picked up a few cuts and bruises, that’s to be expected, but this is the first time we’ve had a real injury in a tournament.

    “The first aid care he received though was excellent.”

    Morris said the tournament had been run fantastically.

    “Everyone’s had a great time and for the boys to win the Plate for George was just the icing on the cake.” 

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