Despite an opening-day defeat to Dubai Hurricanes, Abu Dhabi Harlequins player/coach Jeremy Manning insists he is staying positive.

It certainly doesn’t get any easier for Quins, as they travel to take on Sport360° UAE Premiership champions Jebel Ali Dragons next weekend, but New Zealander Manning says he is pleased with the way his side are going after the 16-15 loss to Canes.

 “I think it was a case of we lost the game rather than getting beaten. I was disappointed, but very, very proud of the boys. I thought we played some great rugby and the boys have got to hold their heads high,” said Manning.

Quins chairman Andy Cole, who believed his side lacked passion, now wants to see a response. 

He said: “It’s always good to look at the positive side, but from a chairman’s point of view I’m not happy with the way I saw things turn out. I think I’ll be having words with the coaching team this week.

“I saw a lot of errors and I think Canes saw those and exploited them. We had enough chances to win the game, so it was disappointing. Where was the passion?”

As for Canes coach Ross Mills, the man who won the treble with Dragons last season insists his team are focused on the next game. 

Mills said: “Everyone knows where I’ve come from. 

“I worked hard, along with everybody else at that club last season (Dragons) that did back-to-back trophies and I don’t want to lose my trophies. 

“That’s not me saying because we’ve won here Canes are to be reckoned with. But I said we wanted to play an attacking brand of rugby and we did that.”