Murray Strang said Jebel Ali Dragons showed plenty of heart in their battling 36-22 defeat to Abu Dhabi Harlequins and believes they can use it as motivation for the rest of the season.
Games between the two in recent years have settled championships but things have changed in the last 18 months, especially for Dragons who went from back-to-back treble winning campaigns in 2012-13 and 2013-14 to being left empty handed last season.
Their form has picked up in recent months, though, and Strang said there was plenty to take away from Friday’s defeat.
This little short range effort and @JebelAliDragons 3rd 2nd half try could not prevent an @Abudhabiquins victory. pic.twitter.com/AtEOZd0Ts7
— Gulf Rugby Paper (@GulfRugbyPaper) February 5, 2016
“There’s lots of positivity from our camp because it’s definitely better than we’ve played in other games, but it’s still tinted with a bit of regret because we were 10 points up at half time,” said the Scotsman.
“We ruled the roost in the first half and maybe that shocked us a bit, we’re not used to that, and we took our foot off the gas.”
Dragons led for an hour before eventually running out of puff against the men from the UAE capital.
The hosts ran in three first half tries at their temporary Dubai Sports City home but were unlucky not to take anything for
their effort.
UAE sevens internationals Ian Overton and Niall Statham went over for Dragons, as well as veteran Paul Hart, Luke Stevenson keeping Quins in touch with his boot.
Once Sam Bolger scored for Quins 12 minutes into the second period, however, you always sensed the Quins’ machine was just beginning to manoeuvre through the gears.
A Dragons’ penalty kept them ahead but with 16 minutes remaining, the visitors finally got their noses in front, Reineer Els scoring and Stevenson’s conversion putting them two points ahead.
Dragons tried to hang on but when captain Ross Samson was yellow carded, Quins capitalised immediately through Matt Smith following a bullocking run from debutant Pieter Morton and Bolger had the final say with his second.
Quins head coach Mike McFarlane said he was not worried despite Dragons’ early dominance.
“It was frustrating for me on the sideline but we came up with a strategy at half-time which benefitted our quick players who put the game to bed, it was just shame we didn’t get 80 minutes of that,” he said.
“We weren’t worried, we know we’ll always outlast most teams and have the pace.”
Win or lose, Strang said big games against the likes of Quins are still the encounters he and his team-mates want to be involved in.
“When we get a performance like that it shows heart and that we’re still desperate to win,” he said.
“Tactical and technical nous was missing, but it was mostly positive.”
