Dubai Exiles show off West Asia credentials with ‘intense’ win over Doha

Paul Radley reports from Dubai Exiles' 25-14 win over Doha in the West Asia Championship on Friday with a quality showing to remain undefeated in the competition.

Dubai Exiles shown during a UAE Premiership match in September. Grant Winter for The National / September 25, 2015

Dubai Exiles 25 Doha 14

Exiles

Tries: Snyman, Sargent, Richards, Moore; Con: Armitage; Penalty: Gerber

Doha

Tries: McLelland 2; Cons: Tremayne 2

Man of the match: Philip Snyman (Exiles)

DUBAI // Dubai Exiles reinforced their West Asia Championship title credentials with a rousing win that ended Doha’s 13-match winning run at 15-a-side competitions.

The city’s oldest club claimed their third win of the cross-border competition thanks to tries from Philip Snyman, Charlie Sargent, Matt Richards and Glenn Moore.

“It was intense,” Moore, the Exiles No 8 and captain, said. “They are a very, very well organised side. We saw last year they were a very good side and had heard this year they have stepped up another level.

“We knew it would be a stern test. We have a good structure now, and we know if we put the phases together we are going to score tries. It is just a matter of keeping composure until we do that.”

The last time Doha had played on this field at The Sevens, back in September, they had beaten the Sri Lankan side Kandy to claim the first West Asia Champions League.

There was plenty of evidence to show why they are regarded as the region’s best side here, too. Aaron McLelland, Doha’s fleet-footed full-back, added two more tries to his growing collection, the first of which was a sparkling solo effort.

Despite exerting considerable pressure, though, the side from Qatar could not find a way through the home defences again.

Snyman had scored on the break in the 14th minute, as the Exiles escaped their own half for the first time in the match, but McLelland’s double meant the hosts trailed 14-8 at the break.

“They scored two tries and at half time our boys were worried, really worried,” Jacques Benade, the Exiles coach, said.

“Us as coaches, we were worried because you could see their tails were up. But I think we had three chances in the second half and took all three.

“I don’t think there was anything between the teams, but luckily it was our day today. Maybe next time it will be a different story.”

The fact Exiles were able to quell the Doha onslaught was a commendable show of composure for a side who have not been used to competing in the upper echelons in recent seasons.

The win was capped when Moore, who had led the defensive effort from the back-row, profited his own cheeky kick through to score.

“I have absolutely no idea what was going through my mind,” the captain said. “There was no-one else around me, I saw three of them and so I thought there was open space.”

The result meant the Exiles and Abu Dhabi Harlequins, who are also level on points at the top of the UAE Premiership, are the only undefeated sides in the competition.

Harlequins have only taken the field once, beating Muscat on their travels last weekend. They claimed another bonus-point win after Al Ain Amblers forfeited their fixture yesterday.

Dubai Hurricanes maintained their own title challenge with a 25-16 win over Bahrain, while Jebel Ali Dragons thrashed Muscat.

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