Alistair Thompson, the player-coach of Abu Dhabi Saracens, lauded his players after the young upstarts of Arabian Gulf rugby comprehensively dispatched one of the region’s most decorated clubs.
Saracens are playing just their second season at this level of rugby in the Middle East, yet they are clearly well up to speed already.
Their 39-15 win over Doha at Al Ghazal on Friday means they are the only undefeated side left in the Gulf Top Six, after four matches of the season.
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The capital club put five tries on their visitors, while the increasingly influential new recruit, Elliott Reeder, landed seven kicks.
“I am very proud of the players,” Thompson said. “We have a game plan which we stuck to, and it was simple rugby but effective rugby.
“To score five tries against a Doha side who have been scoring tries for run in recent weeks, we can’t ask for any more than that.”
Given they only arrived relatively recently on this stage, Saracens started this season without the burden of expectation.
Now they have now beaten everyone bar the last-placed side, Bahrain, who they travel to face in Seer next week, and are the side everyone else is gunning for.
“It is a good position to be in,” Thompson said. “It is new territory for Abu Dhabi Saracens, but we seem to be entering new territory all the time.
“Moving from first to second [by beating Doha] was new for us, but we handled it.
“We are not getting carried away, there are six matches to play in this competition, but we are satisfied with the start we have made.”
Abu Dhabi Harlequins also claimed a win, 32-17 on the road in Bahrain, as the sides vie for a place in the top two and a berth in the season-ending West Asia final.
Jebel Ali Dragons suggested they will not give their status as the region’s No 1 side up without a fight, as they had a scrappy win over Dubai Hurricanes on Thursday night.
“We were good with the pressure last year but this has been a tough season,” said Murray Strang, the Dragons player-coach who struck the winning kick against Hurricanes.
“[Saracens] are pushing hard for top spot, so everyone else is vying for the second spot in the final.
“We are still challenging for that and we are delighted to still be in the hunt as we prepare to go to Doha next week.”
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