Daniel Perry, the Dubai Hurricanes captain, said Friday’s rare win over the defending UAE Premiership champions Jebel Ali Dragons would count for nothing if the two sides meet again in next week’s final.
Hurricanes are trying to invert two years of total domination by the holders as they attempt to regain their mantle as the best in West Asia.
Dragons have been so strong in recent years that Perry, who is in his third season with the Hurricanes, had not played on a winning team against them until last weekend.
“It will count for nothing [if the sides meet again on October 31], it was just another game,” Perry said.
“They beat us by a point in the league last year, then thrashed us in the final.
“But the confidence we have gained by winning on Friday just shows us they are beatable.
“I have not beaten them since I have been here so it was good for a lot of us to get that monkey of our backs.”
Much is riding on Friday’s final round of UAE Premiership matches. Five sides could mathematically qualify for the final, although Dubai Exiles need an unlikely turn of events to make it.
Realistically, Dragons and Hurricanes are best placed, knowing they are guaranteed a final berth so long as they win their own matches against Abu Dhabi Saracens and Exiles respectively.
If either fail, Abu Dhabi Harlequins could steal the other final berth with victory over the last-placed Xodus Wasps Dubai.
While a place in the final is unrealistic, Exiles still have much to play for against Hurricanes.
A win over their fellow tenants at The Sevens could earn the country’s oldest club a place in the top four and a return to the elite, cross-border competition.
“It is all in our own hands,” Perry said. “We are just looking for a win then whatever happens after that takes care of itself.”
Saracens have strengthened significantly since they took what then seemed a shock win away from a trip to the Dragons in last year’s competition.
So much so, the Dragons players are unlikely to recognise many of their opponents when they arrive at Al Ghazal tomorrow evening.
Qualification for the Gulf Top Six, let alone the outside prospect of a place in the final, would be another fine achievement for the capital’s younger club.
“We are not really thinking about the final, we are just looking to control what we can,” said Alistair Thompson, the Saracens player-coach who will be absent because of work commitments.
“It would be a complete long-shot and we can do nothing more than try to win with a bonus point.
“We fear no one in the competition and have been growing with every game.”
pradley@thenational.ae
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