DUBAI // Jebel Ali Dragons used an early get-out-of-jail-free card in the defence of their UAE Premiership title after they were gifted victory in stoppage time by Abu Dhabi Harlequins.
Two of the six teenagers in the Quins squad – Matt Hawley and Iziq Foa’i – had combined to give the away side a late 17-16 advantage on the champions’ home turf.
But there was just enough time for the visitors to infringe at a breakdown directly in front of their own posts and Andy Russell duly obliged with the penalty kick.
“I had three minutes there when I thought we had let it slip away,” Dragons coach Murray Strang said.
“It was only ever going to be a close finish and I didn’t think we were showing that heart.
“Quins were outmuscling us.
“We got humbled by Quins last season in the run up to Christmas.
“We knew if we weren’t 100 per cent here we could get blown away. I feel slightly lucky but I am absolutely delighted the boys ground it out. In hindsight I feel we deserved to win that.”
Russell’s treble of penalties, combined with tries from Sean Crombie and Niall Statham, were just enough for victory for the home team.
It was the second week in succession that Harlequins had surrendered to a final-play loss.
To suggest defeat was harsh on them, though, would be wide of the mark.
They were dominated at scrum time, were fallible in the line-out and squandered a variety of points while kicking for goal.
Their performance, though, was a valiant effort by a team of relative juniors.
Against the side of domestic all-stars that the Dragons have assembled, some of the outstanding players on the field were teenagers such as Hawley, Foa’i – the two try scorers – and Adel Al Hendi.
“I’m the oldest in the backline and I am not even in my 30s yet,” said Jeremy Manning, the Quins full-back, kicker and head coach.
“We made massive improvements on last week.
“Matt Hawley and Charlie Farmer are on gap years from the UK, so are only just out of school.
“They are still acclimatising to this heat and humidity. It is hard going, but those young boys are adapting very well.”
A second try in consecutive weeks by Ed Armitage, the young fly-half, was enough to give Dubai Exiles a second win of the campaign on Thursday night.
The city’s oldest top-flight club beat its youngest, Xodus Wasps Dubai, 17-12 at The Sevens.
Abu Dhabi Saracens avenged their opening day loss to the Exiles with a 19-15 win over Dubai Hurricanes.
pradley@thenational.ae
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