Dubai Tigers seal West Asia Premiership home final

UAE team clinch easy win over title rivals Bahrain in Al Sufouh

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  Dubai Tigers' Esekaia Dranibota is tackled in the West Asia Premiership game against Bahrain at Tigers Park, Dubai, on Friday, March 22, 2024. All photos: Chris Whiteoak / The National

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  Tigers' Nick Cliffe celebrates with teammates after scoring a try against Bahrain.

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  Tigers' Deanne Makoni tries to break the Bahrain defence.

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  Tigers' Matthew Gilham is tackled as he attempts to break clear.

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  Tigers' Charlie Taylor scores.

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  Tigers' Kobi Bates carries the ball.

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  Tigers' Duane Aholelei tries to break the Bahrain defence.

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  Tigers' Niko Volavola makes a charge down the wing.

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  Tigers' Deanne Makoni is closed down by Bahrain players.

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  Tempers flare during the game.

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  Tigers' Sakiusa Naisau scores a try.

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  Tigers' Duane Aholelei tries to offload the ball in the tackle.

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  Tigers' Esekaia Dranibota is tackled.

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  Tigers' Niko Volavola gathers the ball under pressure from Bahrain.

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  Tigers' Deanne Makoni tries to shrug off the Bahrain defence.

Dubai Tigers secured a home final in the West Asia Premiership after easing to victory against their title rivals Bahrain in Al Sufouh on Friday night.

The region’s two leading sides had long since clinched their place in the season decider having dominated the cross-border competition between them.

All that was at stake when the sides met at Tigers Park was who would get home advantage when they next meet on April 13.

The home side emphatically clinched hosting rights for the final with a first-half blitz, led by three-try Sakiusa Naisau and his fellow Fijian flyer Niko Volavola.

In all, the hosts racked up seven tries, with Charlie Taylor, Esekaia Dranibota and Nick Cliffe also scoring.

Although the comprehensive 41-28 scoreline marks Tigers out as title favourites, Bahrain did strike back with some psychological blows of their own towards the end.

The tourists finished the game the far stronger side, touching down three tries of their own in the closing stages, and rattling the Tigers to the point they lost two players to the sin bin.