Abu Dhabi Harlequins hope to bounce back against Bahrain after first home defeat in three years

Matt Jones - Editor 00:22 25/01/2018
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  • Lindsey Gibson (l) of Bahrain tries to tackles Quins' Andrew Semple last season

    After suffering “one of the worst weeks” of his tenure last week, Mike McFarlane’s Abu Dhabi Harlequins will look to bounce back against visiting Bahrain tomorrow.

    Quins were downed 20-17 by Jebel Ali Dragons at Zayed Sports City last Friday – incredibly it was a first home defeat in three years since losing to city rivals Abu Dhabi Saracens in January 2015, and just a first since April 2014.

    Things hardly get easier this weekend with another West Asia Premiership title rival in the shape of Bahrain heading to the UAE capital. Louie Tonkin’s red army are desperate for a victory that will catapult them back into the title race after they were beaten by Dragons two weeks ago.

    But McFarlane insists his side are looking to put things right.

    “It will be a great game against a physical, hard-working side who have had a great first half to the season,” said the Quins coach, who has never lost a home game since replacing Jeremy Manning as Quins coach in the summer of 2015.

    “We are really looking forward to Friday after probably one of our worst Fridays last week. The players have been reflective and have set the intensity in reaction through training this week.

    “Big games come thick and fast in this league and it is why it’s such a good league and why players enjoy playing in it, so we are ready to rumble.”

    All good things come to an end as the saying goes, but McFarlane was disappointed his side didn’t play their own game last week against Dragons – they fought back valiantly from 20-3 down as Dragons held on for victory.

    “Of course, we know we have that spirit, we are close knit and will fight to the end of any game for each other but we shouldn’t have been in that position,” added McFarlane.

    “We are frustrated we didn’t apply ourselves in a Quins way until the 60th minute. I know the players will be looking to put that right this weekend.”

    Bahrain travel to the UAE capital with high hopes of a win that will see them regain touch with the leaders, although Tonkin and his side will be wary of the wounded beast.

    “We know Quins are a good side. They lost their incredible home record last week so we’re wary of the wounded animal. We know a wounded animal is dangerous and they’ll be all guns blazing,” said the Welshman, who admitted his side are shorn of several players.

    Despite this he is confident his side – still reeling from a narrow 26-23 defeat to Dragons on their last visit to the UAE two weeks ago – can get a result.

    He added: “We know how important the game is. If we want to do well and fight for the league, we need to go to places like Quins and win.

    “And we feel confident of doing that. We have a good 22 coming and a few weeks ago against Dragons we feel we let them off the hook. We gifted them 12 points. If we’d been tighter, we feel we would have won that game so we want to right those wrongs and give a good account of ourselves.

    “As always Quins are a great side. They have fantastic half-packs, a good scrum, good driving maul and are coached really well. Hopefully we’ll be good enough to get the result.”

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