Al Ain Amblers put aside a difficult start to life in the UAE Premiership by winning the opening leg of the Eden Park Sevens Series.

The two-leg series, a traditional curtain-raiser to the Emirates Airline Dubai Rugby Sevens, which kicks off in two weeks’ time, got underway at Dubai Sports City on Friday.

Amblers 1sts swept aside Abu Dhabi Harlequins 1sts 21-14 in the semi-finals before blowing away Jebel Ali Dragons 1sts 25-5 in the final with a brilliant display of running rugby.

Niko Volavola dazzled throughout the tournament, especially in the final where he scored two tries and had a hand in the other three.

After a disappointing campaign so far in the 15-a-side format of the game, Al Ain assistant coach Tim Camaivuna says the players will take heart from their Eden Park triumph.

“It gives us a lot of confidence,” he said. “There were a lot of things we wanted to show, especially the skills our players have.”

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Camaivuna insists confidence remains high at the club and they want to maintain that throughout the sevens season, including in Dubai and the second leg of the Eden Park Series in Al Ain next weekend.

“We know we can always do better and that’s what the boys showed. We will show what else we have next week as it’s our home tournament so we want to win,” he added.

Elsewhere on Friday, the Eden Park Plate final saw Harlequins 2nds beat tournament hosts 

Dubai Sharks 29-0. Lanka Lions were impressive in a 28-0 defeat of Conquistadors in the Social 7’s Trophy final, while Barrel House Warriors won the Plate.

In the Vets 10’s, Harlequins made both the Trophy and Plate finals but tasted defeat on each occasion, Dragons winning the Trophy 40-17 against Quins 2nds while Beaver Nomads beat Quins 1sts 26-10 in the Plate.