UAE 16
Tries: Botha, Jones-Griffiths
Pens: Al Noobi 2
Chinese Taipei 12
Tries: Chang, Lin
Con: Hseuh
Chris Jones-Griffiths, the prop who has played in all but one of the UAE’s 23 Tests to date, scored the try that helped the national team end their 2015 campaign on a high.
The Abu Dhabi Harlequins tight head touched down the decisive score in sodden conditions in Kuala Lumpur, as the UAE completed a comeback win against Chinese Taipei.
The fact he bundled over on the back of a drive by the forward pack was remarkable, given the UAE only had six forwards on the field at the time.
Niall Statham and Phil Brady were both in the sin bin, when the national team were awarded a kickable penalty while 12-8 down.
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They opted to kick to touch, and Jones-Griffiths scored from the catch-and-drive which followed the ensuing five-man line-out to put UAE ahead.
Hassan Al Noobi then embellished the win with a late penalty kick.
Michael Botha, the Jebel Ali Dragons centre, scored the earlier try for the national team in the win, which left them in second place in the Asian Championship Division 2.
They fell short of the stated aim of three wins and promotion straight back to the second tier of continental rugby.
However, given that wins of any sort have been difficult to come by since the UAE started playing Test rugby in 2011, they were upbeat about their week’s work.
“We have a good group of players, if that can stay together and hopefully some new guys can come in as well, we can push on,” Jones-Griffiths said.
“We have secured our place in this division, now it is time to push on next year and hopefully gain promotion.”
Adam Telford, the captain, said UAE rugby had reasons to be optimistic after their campaign in Malaysia, despite missing out on promotion to the host nation.
“The conditions levelled the game, it was like being back in Ireland,” Telford said of the win over Chinese Taipei.
“It was very tough but we dug deep to get the win. [The defeat to Malaysia on Wednesday] was very disappointing but we finished on a high and we are already looking forward to next year.”
pradley@thenational.ae
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Benefits of first-time home buyers' scheme
- Priority access to new homes from participating developers
- Discounts on sales price of off-plan units
- Flexible payment plans from developers
- Mortgages with better interest rates, faster approval times and reduced fees
- DLD registration fee can be paid through banks or credit cards at zero interest rates
SERIE A FIXTURES
Saturday (All UAE kick-off times)
Lecce v SPAL (6pm)
Bologna v Genoa (9pm)
Atlanta v Roma (11.45pm)
Sunday
Udinese v Hellas Verona (3.30pm)
Juventus v Brescia (6pm)
Sampdoria v Fiorentina (6pm)
Sassuolo v Parma (6pm)
Cagliari v Napoli (9pm)
Lazio v Inter Milan (11.45pm)
Monday
AC Milan v Torino (11.45pm)
UK's plans to cut net migration
Under the UK government’s proposals, migrants will have to spend 10 years in the UK before being able to apply for citizenship.
Skilled worker visas will require a university degree, and there will be tighter restrictions on recruitment for jobs with skills shortages.
But what are described as "high-contributing" individuals such as doctors and nurses could be fast-tracked through the system.
Language requirements will be increased for all immigration routes to ensure a higher level of English.
Rules will also be laid out for adult dependants, meaning they will have to demonstrate a basic understanding of the language.
The plans also call for stricter tests for colleges and universities offering places to foreign students and a reduction in the time graduates can remain in the UK after their studies from two years to 18 months.
Indoor cricket in a nutshell
Indoor cricket in a nutshell
Indoor Cricket World Cup - Sept 16-20, Insportz, Dubai
16 Indoor cricket matches are 16 overs per side
8 There are eight players per team
9 There have been nine Indoor Cricket World Cups for men. Australia have won every one.
5 Five runs are deducted from the score when a wickets falls
4 Batsmen bat in pairs, facing four overs per partnership
Scoring In indoor cricket, runs are scored by way of both physical and bonus runs. Physical runs are scored by both batsmen completing a run from one crease to the other. Bonus runs are scored when the ball hits a net in different zones, but only when at least one physical run is score.
Zones
A Front net, behind the striker and wicketkeeper: 0 runs
B Side nets, between the striker and halfway down the pitch: 1 run
C Side nets between halfway and the bowlers end: 2 runs
D Back net: 4 runs on the bounce, 6 runs on the full
MATCH INFO
Manchester United 1 (Fernandes pen 2') Tottenham Hotspur 6 (Ndombele 4', Son 7' & 37' Kane (30' & pen 79, Aurier 51')
Man of the match Son Heung-min (Tottenham)
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Profile of Tamatem
Date started: March 2013
Founder: Hussam Hammo
Based: Amman, Jordan
Employees: 55
Funding: $6m
Funders: Wamda Capital, Modern Electronics (part of Al Falaisah Group) and North Base Media
THE BIO
Occupation: Specialised chief medical laboratory technologist
Age: 78
Favourite destination: Always Al Ain “Dar Al Zain”
Hobbies: his work - “ the thing which I am most passionate for and which occupied all my time in the morning and evening from 1963 to 2019”
Other hobbies: football
Favorite football club: Al Ain Sports Club
