RUGBY – BAHRAIN Rugby Football Club (BRFC) defeated the Abu Dhabi Harlequins 19-12 last night in their first of two pre-season matches ahead of the new regional rugby campaign.
Tries from Josh Petro, Henk Gouws, and Lindsey Gibson helped lift the kingdom’s representatives in the contest, which was played at Zayed Sports City in the UAE capital. Prolific kicker Josh Drain added two conversion kicks in their win.
BRFC enjoyed a commanding 19-0 lead before giving up the Harlequins’ 12 points in the game’s closing stages.
Petro had a try early on to put the Bahrainis 5-0 ahead. The visitors didn’t score again until the second half, when Gouws made it 10-0 before Drain added two bonus points. Gibson then scored his try to extend their lead even further, with Drain converting his ensuing kick for the 19-0 cushion.
The Harlequins tried to get back into the fight and challenge for the win, but BRFC did enough to defend their advantage until the final whistle.
The Bahrain side are set to play another pre-season game at home next Saturday against Alexandria RC from Egypt. It will be their last friendly before the First XV and Second XV squads kick off their West Asia Premiership and UAE Division One title bids, respectively.
The First XV play on September 26 away to the Dubai Exiles, while the Second XV begin their schedule on October 3 or 4 away against the Dubai Tigers First XV.
BRFC travelled to Abu Dhabi with a team that included forwards Gouws, Cam Thomson, Matt McKee, Nick Young, Mutayam Matrook, Dave Ofori, Andries de Kock, Cooper Comrie, Mackenzie Oliver, Awethu Lushozi, Tian Jacobs, Alastair Crombie, Kelvin Kanenungo, and Sesona Macala; and backs Petro, Romeo Eksteen, Cormac Fox, Josh Drain, James Newey, Greg Heath, Dan Dryden, Gregor Smith, Joel Kidgell, Jack Hocking, and Amaan Raza.
Gibson is also part of the coaching staff that includes Adam Wallace, Ross Preedy, and Jack Parry.
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