A tenacious Kandy performance coupled with an error-strewn showing from Dubai Exiles handed the Asia Rugby Western Clubs Champions League trophy to Abu Dhabi Harlequins.
Exiles claimed a relatively straightforward win but were unable to secure the 40-point margin of victory required to lift the title. Countless knock-ons contributed to a disjointed performance from Jacques Benade’s men at The Sevens.
The South African fielded an experimental team with talisman Durandt Gerber shifted along to inside centre, while the humid weather conditions also played a part.
The result, however, was as much down to the determination of the Sri Lankans, who did not wilt as they had done in the stifling heat of their encounter with Quins in Abu Dhabi three days earlier.
Gerber put the hosts ahead with a penalty after two minutes and then set up winger Matt Richards for the opening try with a delightful looping pass out wide to the Englishman who cut inside to touch down.
Scrum-half Alex Fowler, in for the absent Ed Armitage, looked lively in and around the breakdown and showed good awareness to dive over for Exiles’ second try from a ruck near the Kandy line as the hosts began to exert a grip on the game.
@DubaiExiles coach Jacques Benade: Off the field friendly and engaging, during game time, he's a scary man pic.twitter.com/Z1IhLuyu95
— Matt Jones (@MattJones360) September 9, 2016
That hold, on the game or the ball, didn’t last though. Kandy scored nine unanswered points through the boot of outside half Arshad Tamaldeen, his first penalty a beauty from just inside his own half as half-time loomed.
He cut the gap to seven early in the second half before Exiles began to move through the gears. Skipper Glenn Moore finished off a fine move, holding off two tacklers to touch down under the posts following good work from debutant Jerry Kilicanasau.
The former Al Ain Amblers livewire signed with the club several weeks ago but was also guilty of several knock-ons as well as trying to offload in the tackle too much as Exiles chased the game.
Gerber, Michael Sole, Matt Mills, Alex Carlton Porter and Nathan Appleby also lost forward at vital moments as the trophy began to slowly slip away from last season’s double winners.
They did score again when Gerber threw a dummy to stroll over after Exiles had stolen a lineout with 10 minutes remaining. That meant they required three converted scores to take the title but their night was summed up when Jonny Rivlin, Kristian Stinson and Kris Hughes conspired to lose possession out wide when a try seemed imminent.
