Abu Dhabi Harlequins show they ‘are a hard team to beat’ against Dubai Exiles

Abu Dhabi Harlequins scored a 25-18 win over Dubai Exiles at Zayed Sports City in the West Asia Premiership on Friday night.

Luke Stevenson of Abu Dhabi Harlequins in action in a West Asia Champions League match against Kandy earlier this month. Delores Johnson / The National

4Abu Dhabi Harlequins 25-18 Dubai Exiles

HAR: Tries – Roberts 2, Umu; Cons – Stevenson 2; Pens – Stevenson 2

EXI: Tries – Sackmann; Pen try – Sackmann; Con – Travers; Pens – Travers 2

ABU DHABI // Luke Stevenson, the Abu Dhabi Harlequins fly-half, is aiming high after his team’s 25-18 triumph over Dubai Exiles took them to two wins from two games in the West Asia Premiership.

Cameron Roberts touched down twice and the Fijian centre Willie Umu rounded off with a try for the Quins to pull off a big win at Zayed Sports City on Friday night.

“We knew it’s going to be tough against the Exiles but the boys responded well for us to pull it off at the end,” said Stevenson, who contributed 10 points from two penalties and two conversions.

The home side took a 6-0 lead at the half-hour mark before the visitors struck in injury time of the first period to go into the break at 6-5.

The Exiles made a series of moves from rucks and mauls for Tomas Sackmann to touch down in the left corner. Matthew Travers sent a conversion just wide of the post after missing two long-range penalties.

The Exiles fly-half was on target early in the second half to put them ahead 8-6 before the Quins ran up three tries. They ran the ball from their own half for Roberts to touch down mid left and Stevenson added the extra points to regain the lead 13-8.

Travers reduced the lead with his second penalty before Roberts went over for his second try of the match to further extend the lead 20-11.

The Exiles closed the gap again when they were awarded a penalty try for obstruction but the Quins reply was swift.

Umu brushed aside some clutching hands to crash over mid right for an unconverted try.

“It was close going into the break,” Stevenson said. “We even lost the lead soon after the break, but we managed to regain it and then I was happy how the boys managed to stay ahead and win the game.

“The boys have been through the pre-season and they are fit. We also have a bigger squad to choose from. We are confident we can do better this season as we have a lot of depth, particularly the backs, and they are strong. We know on the day we are a hard team to beat.”

Roberts is one of the newcomers to the Quins outfit and the centre-back impressed with his blistering runs and the two tries.

“It’s only my second game since I arrived in Abu Dhabi three weeks ago.

“It’s a lot hotter for me, but I’m already enjoying the games,” said Roberts, who played for University of Bath last season.

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