Brave UAE turned in their most complete performance of this year’s HSBC Asian 5 Nations, running South Korea close for 60 minutes before fading in the last quarter.
The result sees Korea return to their customary second place in Asia, with UAE finishing fourth and preserving their top division status at the expense of Kazakhstan.
UAE vice captain and Sevens captain Tim Fletcher scored the match’s opening try, which was converted by fly-half Murray Strang to give UAE a 7-0 lead. Fletcher then added a second try in the second half.
The Koreans replied immediately through flanker Lee Kwang Moon, with the conversion from Oh Youn Hyun levelling the score at 7-7. Towering lock forward You Young Nam then edged the hosts out in front for the first time with a well-worked try, which was again converted by Oh to put Korea ahead 14-7.
But UAE replied again, this time through fleet-footed full-back Imad Reyal whose jinking try pulled UAE level after Strang’s conversion at 14-all going at half-time.
Korea started the second half in a frenzy and they capitalised on a UAE error from a deep re-start with a rolling maul finished off by hooker Shin Young Jun who piled over from short range. Oh’s third conversion of the day was successful, putting Korea ahead 21-14.
Fletcher’s second try came quick on the heels of Shin’s tally. Strang’s conversion was good and the scores were level again at 21 with 30 minutes remaining.
But then Lee Kwang Moon sold a great dummy to put winger Cho In Soo in the clear for Korea’s fourth try and secured the bonus point. Oh’s conversion was successful and Korea held a 26-21 lead.
The Koreans never looked back, scoring through scrum-half Yang Youn Han and two more from captain Youn Kwon Woo and reserve winger Jegal Bin.
UAE head coach Duncan Hall said: “It was definitely one of our better performances as a team. We had a great first 60 minutes but just ran out of steam at the end.”
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