Al Ain Amblers broke Dubai College’s stranglehold on the Gulf Under-19s competition at the Dubai Rugby Sevens with a thrilling 21-19 triumph in the Trophy final.
Dominant Dubai had won this tournament for the previous four years and, having accounted for Jumeirah College Lions 28-0 in the semi-final on Saturday, they would have entered the final in confident mood.
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They were in control for large periods too but a brilliant counter-attack try from talented Al Ain first team player Jerry Kilicanasau right at the death drew the teams level and looked like it would send the final into sudden death.
Amblers had other ideas, however, and a brilliant touchline conversion from Ryno de Bruyn snatched victory for the side from the Garden City.
De Bruyn had earlier kicked a similar conversion to put Al Ain into the lead for the first time at 14-12 following Euan McKinnon and Nathan Appleby tries for Dubai College.
The eye-catching Appleby then put Liam Benstead away for what looked like it would be the game-clinching try and a fifth successive successful trip to The Sevens for Dubai College before Kilicanasau and De Bruyn’s dramatic late intervention.
The team’s success was a little too much for emotional coach and father Jerry Kilicanasau Senior, who has seen his 17-year-old son follow him into the Amblers’ senior set-up.
“It’s unbelievable,” he said.
“It’s the first time for me at the Dubai Sevens. We were in the pool together with Dubai College. They have won it four years in a row so it is very special for us.”
After learning his try and his side’s victory had reduced his father to tears, Kilicanasau Junior revealed the final had been a very emotional occasion for him too.
“It was a pretty special try. I need to thank the lord because without him we wouldn’t have got this far,” said the prodigiously talented teenager.
“I had the ball passed to me from my team-mate James, I was telling him ‘just flip it to me, just flip it to me’ and then when I got the ball I just looked towards the try line and said ‘go for it’.
“I was confident. I thought the tackler was going to catch me but I just went for the corner and got it.”
He was quick to praise his team-mate De Bruyn though.
“Ryno’s kick was great. I couldn’t believe it. No other boy could kick it that far. My dad was crying and I was crying too,” he added.
