DUBAI // Dubai Hurricanes exacted a modicum of revenge for last year’s Gulf Premiership final defeat to Jebel Ali Dragons at the Centre of Excellence with a narrow 26-24 win this time around.
Not that they were celebrating excessively. No trophies were handed out after their victory here and they realise the job is only half-done.
See you again in two weeks time in this year’s final, both sides might as well have been saying to each other at the final whistle.
“That is 80 minutes of rugby, now we need to start planning again for next week,” said Ross Mills, the Hurricanes coach.
While Mills attempted to downplay the result, it was clear to see how much it meant to him.
He parted company by mutual consent with the Dragons this summer, having overseen their second treble win in two years last term.
He then took up a similar role with last season’s defeated finalists and saw them get one over his old charges at the first attempt.
“It is not about Ross Mills, ex-Dragons – it is just a win,” he said.
“I suppose it makes it all the sweeter that it is against the Dragons. They are a quality outfit and will be there or thereabouts come the final.
“We had to go back-to-back wins, which we haven’t done all season.”
Mills was not the only member of the Hurricanes party who headed to Jebel Ali with some unfinished business on this patch.
It was the first time Greg Thompson, the Hurricanes No 8, had been back to this ground since he dislocated his shoulder playing in this corresponding fixture two seasons ago. The Irish engineer has spent the majority of the intervening time studying in the United States, but he returned to Dubai at the start of this season.
“The standard has raised again in the couple of years that I was gone,” said the former UAE international forward.
“It is nice to be back and finish the job today. That feels like the first half and if we can turn over Dubai Exiles [next Friday] then we can have another go at them in the final.”
Thompson has clearly added impetus to his old side’s bid to regain their status as the best in the Middle East, and opened the scoring in this encounter with a typically rampaging run.
Dragons had a kick to win the game in the final minute, having scored tries through Sean Crombie, Pete Kelly and a penalty try via their dominant scrum.
But Hurricanes, thanks to the trusty boot of Andy Powell and another try for Chris Gregory, maintained their pursuit of top spot.
The Dragons lead the table by a point from Hurricanes, but any two of four teams could yet qualify for the final on October 31.
“This was a good, competitive game and could have gone any way,” Thompson said.
“When the final comes around it will be the team that works hardest that wins it.”
pradley@thenational.ae