RUGBY – BAHRAIN’S First XV posted a resounding, come-from-behind 25-20 victory over the Dubai Hurricanes First XV yesterday in 2024-25 Men’s West Asia Super Rugby.
Tries from Dan Mau’u and Awethu Lushozi in the first half, plus another from Jack Phillips after the break, along with a pair of conversions and penalties each from Josh Drain, lifted the home team in a hotly contested affair played in front of a large and supportive crowd at Bahrain Rugby Football Club (BRFC) in Saar.
The kingdom’s representatives fell behind by six points early but took the lead into the break. They then conceded the advantage once again after the re-start but roared back with the big plays down the stretch to pull off the hard-earned win.
“We knew this was going to be an even bigger challenge – [the Hurricanes] are a well-drilled team, they’ve got a great structure, and they brought that from the word go,” BRFC’s rugby director Adam Wallace told the GDN post-game yesterday.
“We knew this was going to be a big game for them and they were targeting this – they’ve travelled strong, they took the game to us, and they were outstanding the way they approached the game.”
The victory maintained Bahrain’s unbeaten record after 10 games so far in this season’s Men’s West Asia Super Rugby, while handing their UAE-based opponents their fourth loss in 11 outings.
With two fixtures remaining, the kingdom’s First XV are hoping to keep up their winning ways as they head towards the knockout stage.
“We still have to games to play, so we’ve got to make sure that we now go back, look at that performance, improve and identify areas where we need to strengthen our own game, and take that into the next game, which will be a very tough one away in Abu Dhabi next weekend,” explained Wallace.
The Hurricanes were first on the board yesterday with a pair of penalty kicks in the opening 20 minutes, but Bahrain replied soon after when Mau’u powered past the line for their first try. Drain was unable to get the additional two points at that point, but after Lushozi drove the ball in to give Bahrain the lead at 10-6, Drain delivered his first kick conversion to extend their advantage to 12-6.
That put the hosts in front heading into the interval, but just seven minutes into the second-half, the Hurricanes had a try and then their ensuing set-piece gave them a slim 13-12 edge.
It didn’t take long, however, for Bahrain to regain the advantage with Phillips’s try in the corner in the 51st minute. Drain was then on target with a fantastic nudge to make it 19-13.
Drain continued his fine play and contributed three more points with a quarter-hour to go, giving Bahrain a nine-point cushion at 22-13. And after the Hurricanes reduced the deficit to 20-22 with under 10 minutes remaining, Drain contributed another successful kick to peg the final score with just five minutes on the clock.
“It was good – they were tough, they defended us really well, and they put us under a lot of pressure in the first half when we couldn’t really get anything going,” Drain told the GDN.
“They’re a top side and they’re pushing for a top two position as well, so it was a good win. That’s two tough games on the bounce we’ve gone behind and have come back to win, and we are very proud of ourselves for that.”
Wallace lauded Bahrain’s First XV for their fighting spirit in yesterday’s contest. “You can’t always win them pretty,” he said. “We spoke about the resilience of the team to stay in the battle, to stay in the fight, and I think that’s really going to help strengthen this unit, strengthen our bond, and our ability to close out tight games.
“Again, massively proud of the boys for the way they’ve done it. The impact from the bench was huge today, so it was a full squad effort. We’re really happy for the result against what I thought today were an outstanding team in the Dubai Hurricanes.”
Following Bahrain’s penultimate assignment of the preliminary stage against the Abu Dhabi Harlequins First XV on Friday at Zayed Sports City in the UAE capital, they complete their scheduled against the Dubai Dragons First XV away at Jebel Ali on March 21.
patrick@gdnmedia.bh
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