Dubai Exiles 92
Tries Sargent 5, Bothma 2, Armitage 2, Snyman, Stapley, Rapallo, Leveanasiga, Gerber
Cons Gerber 11
Dubai Hurricanes 22
Tries Jasko, Chapman, Curran
Cons Beard, Branch
Drop goal Branch
Man of the match Charlie Sargent (Exiles)
DUBAI // Dubai Exiles players celebrated their long-awaited return to the winners’ podium by climbing on to a dais and singing out David Bowie’s lyrics: “We can be heroes.” And they were, on one fine club day for the city’s oldest rugby institution.
Exiles completed their revival in the most resounding fashion possible, as they put to the sword a side with whom they share administrative space, as they clinched the West Asia Championship.
Local bragging rights do not get much more localised than those of Exiles and Hurricanes. The two clubs’ offices are separated by one paper-thin wall in the Players Club at The Sevens.
Hurricanes were not in the running for the title themselves, but they would happily have rained on their neighbours parade.
From the moment they arrived late for kick off, failed to clear their lines from their first possession of the ball, then gave Philip Snyman a free run in for a first-minute try, it was obvious the task was going to be beyond them.
That was a vital nerve settler for the Exiles, given the build up they had had. They were soundly beaten by Abu Dhabi Harlequins, their rivals for top spot, on their last outing two weeks ago.
Training was interrupted in the week that followed by adverse weather, while Jacques Benade, the coach who has brought about the club’s turnaround in form this season, was entirely absent this week.
“I must say I was on the phone about 10 times per day,” said Benade, who had been in London with his day job as director of rugby at Dubai College.
“We worked so hard. The structures were in place, but you were always a little bit worried, especially after the Harlequins game, then being unable to train last week due to weather conditions.
“It was a big week for us, so I was just delighted to be back home in time to see this.”
Exiles were rampant. They started this competition by putting 144 points on Muscat, with Charlie Sargent scoring six tries.
They were hardly less prolific here, crossing the whitewash 14 times, while Sargent bookended his own season of triumph on the right wing with a haul of five.
The manner of the win was perfectly in keeping with the Exiles’ big day out. The fixture had been moved to the show field on Pitch 2. A huge marquee was erected next to the pitch. The players were welcomed on to the field through a tunnel of club junior players.
Matt Mills, who was given the captain’s armband in the absence of Glenn Moore - as well as the regular skipper’s No 8 shirt - said the players revelled in the carnival atmosphere.
“Having lost two weeks ago at Quins, when we didn’t get off the bus, today we just wanted to enjoy ourselves,” Mills said.
“There was hype around the game and pressure, but we just wanted to enjoy ourselves. We wanted to be positive and play our rugby, and I think we did that.
“It was an unbelievable atmosphere. Having the club day with mini and youth players here all day, to have their support on the sidelines, to have the under 10s and 12s clapping us on to the field, it was wonderful to see.”
None of the three sides who were in contention on the final day left anything to chance. Exiles razed Hurricanes. Harlequins, who finished a point behind in second, beat Bahrain 108-7, while Doha signed off their campaign with a 97-0 win in Muscat.
After the flurry of thrashings, Exiles claimed the first of what appears likely to be a cross-border and domestic double, as they also vie for the UAE Premiership honours with Harlequins.
pradley@thenational.ae
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