Dubai Exiles 144
Tries: Sargent 6, Moore 3, Richards 3, Leavanasiga 2, Ferguson 2, Gerber 2, Walsh, Armitage, Snyman, Rapallo
Cons: Gerber 15, Sargent, Walsh
Muscat 5
Try: Braban
Man of the match: DuRandt Gerber (Exiles)
DUBAI // Of all the statistics in this lopsided opener to the new West Asia Championship, perhaps the most telling was the fact Dubai Exiles scored more tries than the opposition had players in their tour squad.
Charlie Sargent led the way with six. Glenn Moore, the captain, and Matt Richards notched hat-tricks apiece. How much the Exiles can read into it as a guide to their title credentials, though, is questionable.
After their fine first half to the season, some of the Exiles players were apprehensive about how they would fare after nearly two months without a game of XVs, as well as the excesses of the Christmas break.
They need not have worried too much. Monday night training runs are probably more taxing than this game proved to be.
ALSO READ: Paul Radley's preview to West Asia Championship
“We obviously didn’t realise the score would be quite like that, but it was nice to have a game where we could score some points while running the cobwebs out,” Moore said.
“Even at training, we realised some of the guys were tired after the break, so this was a good way to start.”
Muscat went in to this new-look tournament with their eyes open. Alex Maxton, their captain, had pointed out on the eve of the competition that all teams are a different proposition on away territory. “There is a huge difference between home and away,” he said.
The fact the side from Oman are starting from a smaller player base than the rest, however, means the step back up to this level after years away is likely to be a challenge.
One immediate concern for them might be the fact they have to return to play on exactly the same field in a week’s time.
Their second match is against the other tenants of The Sevens, Dubai Hurricanes. All in all, Muscat have to travel to Dubai three times during January, as well as away to Bahrain next month.
Travelling light to the UAE, they were always going to be up against it against a resurgent Exiles. Another marker in the disparity in resources available to the two sides lies in the fact that, while Muscat could not manage to bring a full squad with them, the Exiles had a fly-half who has only just finished a decade long professional career in Europe.
DuRandt Gerber, who joined Exiles in the summer, nearly went to the 2011 World Cup as a No 10 for Italy, before being cut from the squad at the last.
Against Muscat, he had a match haul of 40 points, and was the driving force behind the home side maintaining their standard of excellence throughout.
“No matter what the score was going to be, we wanted to focus on our patterns,” Moore said. “Because we hadn’t played together as a XVs side for two months, boys were forgetting calls.”
The Exiles will face a sterner assignment when they travel to Bahrain next weekend. Bahrain gave note of their own potential as they beat Abu Dhabi Saracens, the defending champions, 13-12 at Al Ghazal.
In the other opening day fixture, Doha travelled to Al Ain Amblers, who are making their debut in this competition, with the side from Qatar winning 65-33.
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