HURRICANES 28-24 DRAGONS
Dubai Hurricanes Tries: Buxmann, O'Loughlin, Whitehouse; Cons: Beard 2; Pens: Beard 3
Jebel Ali Dragons Tries: Blamire 2, McMaster 2; Cons: McMaster 2
DUBAI // Jebel Ali Dragons’ worrying start to the season continued on Thursday night as they suffered defeat against their city rivals Dubai Hurricanes at The Sevens.
Having lost their opening two matches of the season the 2014 treble-winners could have done without losing a raft of players to international duty this weekend.
Six of the 12-man UAE squad that will be playing in the Asia Sevens Series in Sri Lanka this weekend might otherwise have been engaged in trying to stop the rot for Dragons in the UAE Premiership.
Their absence only exacerbated the problems which had been present their previous two weeks, as the disjointed Dragons succumbed to a Hurricanes side who are still yet to find their stride themselves this season.
This was Hurricanes’ second win from three matches, though, and Daniel Perry, their captain, is confident there is still plenty more to come from his team.
“From three games this season, we have won two but not played for 80 minutes yet,” Perry said.
“When we played well, in five or 10 minute blocks, they couldn’t live with us. It is teams like that we should be killing.
“We should have been putting them to the sword. The last try at the end was a sucker punch and we had our hearts in our mouths.”
Ben Blamire, the Dragons openside flanker, had earned the away side a half-time lead with two tries. James McMaster also scored two touchdowns after the break for the Dragons.
It was not enough, though, as tries from John Buxmann, Ross O’Loughlin and Will Whitehouse, allied to the reliable boot of Paul Beard, gave Hurricanes victory.
“To get a win against Dragons is massive,” Perry said. “That is three losses for them and we could have killed their season right there.
“A derby is always a good game to play in. The boys were excited and to come away with a win is brilliant.
“There is not a team that we have played yet that has completely outclassed us and that fills me with a lot of confidence.”
pradley@thenational.ae
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