There is likely to be only one undefeated side left standing in the Gulf Top Six after this weekend as the latest round throws up a titanic top-of-the-table clash between Abu Dhabi Saracens and Doha.
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The two clubs have burst out of the blocks this season, progressing from also rans last term to leading contenders.
Doha narrowly top the table courtesy of three huge bonus points wins against Abu Dhabi Harlequins, Dubai Hurricanes and Bahrain.
Friday’s hosts Saracens have shown superb form to sit one point behind, a first-ever triumph against capital rivals Quins being bookend ed by victories against Jebel Ali Dragons and Canes.
Sarries play/coach Ali Thompson admitted his team were currently in uncharted territory, hoping to keep the momentum building at Al Ghazal on Friday evening.
He said: “We will be on our own pitch and any team that comes out of this with a win will take huge confidence moving ahead.
“We are developing and we have not seen the best of Abu Dhabi Saracens yet. It is my job to get that out of the team.
“We are in a place we have never been before. This game against Doha is one of huge significance.
“One team will drop points, and hopefully it will not be us.”
Doha’s deadly backs have racked up a leading 136 points in their three matches, while Saracens’ monstrous pack featuring giants such as No8 Jaen Botes and hooker Gio Fourie have set the platform for their success.
“It’s certainly going to be a battle up-front; I haven’t personally played against the Saracens before, however I know that they are a solid and physical outfit,” Doha captain Liam Frost said.
“Clearly, both teams want to win this game and being the away team does increase the challenge. So a win for us would be a great lift for the lads and put us in a strong position for the rest of the season.”
Small chinks in Doha’s fearsome armour were shown last time out against Bahrain, conceding three tries in an eventual 45-24 triumph.
Thompson has taken “a positive message” from that result. He said: “Doha’s main strength is in their back line. We have got to play well in defence, as well as attack. Bahrain showed last week that you can score tries against Doha. We have to take a positive message from that.
“We have a strong pack but that is not the only strong area in our team. We have proven we are dangerous in other areas and will make sure to use our backs.”
Bahrain looking for elusive win
Bahrain hope to use an uplifting defeat to rampant Doha as inspiration to get their first Gulf Top Six win when they host Abu Dhabi Harlequins, according to first team manager Tom Hanratty.
The island-outfit scored four tries against their leading Qatari opponents last week, eventualy going down 45-24. This was by far the best showing anyone has put up against them this season, with big guns Quins and Dubai Hurricanes suffering 51-10 and 41-5 defeats.
“It was a really respectable performance for us last Friday and it was a quite positive performance,” Hanratty said.
“We have to be buoyed by that. There was no shame in that defeat. We have to win against Quins and that display will act as inspiration.”
Quins come into the GT6 as the reigning Premiership and Dubai Sevens Gulf Men’s League champions after a typically strong start to the season. Their progress has not been without hiccups, however.
They lost their opening two Premiership fixtures and have repeated that bumpy start in January. A first triumph last time out against Jebel Ali Dragons and player/coach Jeremy Manning hoped that could be the start of history repeating itself.
“There were lots of silly errors in our opening two games, where we kept leaving points on the field,” he said.
“Bahrain are always a really tough team and we respect them completely. It is never an easy game there, and we will go into it a few men down – that’s just the way it is.”
Dragons have revenge on thier minds as they take on Canes
Revenge is in the air for champions Jebel Ali Dragons when they look to ignite their faltering Gulf Top Six campaign at Dubai Hurricanes.
Dragons have failed to spark this season under new player/coaching duo Murray Strang and Sean Crombie, with their upcoming opponents playing a big role in their problems.
Under former Dragons boss Ross Mills, they checked their Premiership progress with a narrow 26-24 win and knocked them out of the Dubai Sevens at the quarter-final stage.
Both sides only have one win on the board thus far in the GT6, and Strang is eager to channel the frustration from the recent clashes when they meet at 7he Sevens tonight (Thursday).
He said: “They derailed our momentum before Christmas in the Premiership and the defeat under the floodlights during the quarter-final at the Dubai Sevens is fresh in our memory.
“They were really disappointing losses and we definitely have unfinished business with Canes.
“Both teams need success after our recent results and we are fighting for our last chances at silverware. Both will be equally determined to succeed.
“It is also a Dubai derby, so there is lots of pride at stake. It is do or die for us after the Quins loss if we want to be in the running.
“We have a difficult trip to Qatar next weekend, so this is a vital game.”
Mills departed Dragons in the summer after Premiership, Sevens and GT6 success in his only campaign in charge. He soon pitched up at Canes, guiding them to a 39-19 Premiership final loss to Abu Dhabi Harlequins in October.
“The longer the season goes on, the less poignant it is with Dragons,” he said.
“My players will want to win as Dragons have been their nemesis for so long. Muzza [Strang] and Sean will have them fired up. Hopefully, we’ll be shaking hands at the end with Canes as the winners.”
