Although their opponents might have improved immensely during the summer, Abu Dhabi Harlequins and Dubai Exiles proved why they remain the benchmark in the Gulf as they produced an enthralling 80 minutes of rugby.
From the thunderous hits and outstanding defence permeating the first half to the free-flowing, end-to-end rugby that lit up the second – this was a match that displayed the very best of UAE domestic rugby.
Quins won to hold onto their hugely impressive, proud home record at Zayed Sports City, where they have not tasted defeat since losing to Jebel Ali Dragons 32-11 in the final of the 2014 West Asia Cup – two-and-a-half years ago.
“The rivalry’s huge and it’s a big game but you need to treat all games like this otherwise you’re going to slip up,” said victorious Quins coach Mike McFarlane, who declared his side play the most attractive rugby in the Midde East.
“I thought some of the rugby we played tonight was outstanding. We’re a clinical team. The boys are relentless in their structures and patterns, which sets us up to play our brand of rugby.
“I don’t think anyone else is playing the type of rugby we are in the Gulf. It’s great to watch, we constantly look to attack.”
Willie Umu (l) and Luke Stevenson (r) congratulate Cameron Roberts after scoring
Exiles counterpart Jacques Benade bemoaned the amount of errors that cost the champions dear.
“You can’t play rugby without the ball. The difference today was they had too much ball and we didn’t,” said the South African, who counted 14 lineouts that his side didn’t win.
“I know we’re going to get better. It’s not the Exiles of last season yet, but it will come, I know it will. From what I saw today we can get a lot better and I think Quins were very happy at the final whistle. These are two good teams and we both like playing each other.”
Benade likened the game to 22-18 defeat they suffered at the same venue a year ago where Barry Dwyer’s late try won it for Quins.
With Exiles launching an attack with time ticking down, Matt Travers put Matt Richards away but the move was called back for a forward pass and that signalled the final whistle that sent the Quins players and supporters into reptures.
“It was very similar to the game a year ago and we almost got a score at the end,” Benade added. “A missed tackle here, a bad pass there on their tries, and they’re a good side and they went and scored.”
Exiles, shorn of the talismanic presence of Durandt Gerber, were given a reminder of his brilliance as young pretender Matt Travers missed his first three kicks at goal.
Though two were from distance, Luke Stevenson showed him how it was done as his two penalties opened up a 6-0 lead, although it was the visitors who scored the game’s first try, Exiles clinical after pouncing on a Quins error and Tomas Sackman scoring his first try for the club.
It was just 6-5 at the break but the game had been anything but dull, with both sides hurtling into each other at breakneck speed and with lethal ferocity.
Travers grew into the game and his penalty gave Exiles the lead for the first time minutes into the second half.
A scuffle breaks out between players during a ferocious encounter
Quins’ scrum-half Andrew Semple’s lightening break looked to have brought the hosts their first try but, somehow, winger Charlie Sargent got back to force a knock-on over the tryline.
It only delayed the inevitable and replacement Brian Geraghty fielded a kick in his own 22 and launched a counter-attack that ended with Cameron Roberts going over on the hour.
A Travers penalty reduced the gap to two but, almost immediately, Quins scored again. A fluid attack was finished off again by Roberts who threw an outrageous dummy to give Quins a bit of daylight.
It was a brief riposte as Exiles refused to wilt, the referee eventually awarding a penalty try after Quins continually transgressed defending near their own line.
That made it 20-18 but Quins landed a killer blow through William Umu’s try athough Exiles continued to threaten to level the scores.
Travers and Matt Richards combined, the youngster sending the full-back away but a forward pass signaled the final whistle and Quins players’ gleeful celebrations told you how much this meant.