Abu Dhabi Harlequins earn their treat at Dubai Hurricanes expense

Abu Dhabi Harlequins took their first UAE Premiership title in three years, and though they have missed out on much over the past two seasons, but this was the second consecutive Premiership final defeat for Dubai Hurricanes, who had finished the league season in first place.

Abu Dhabi Harlequins, in white, red and green, ran through Dubai Hurricanes to win the UAE Premiership title. Quins had not won the league title in three years. Victor Besa for The National

HURRICANES 19-39 HARLEQUINS

Dubai Hurricanes - Tries: Powell, Thompson; Pens: Powell 3

Abu Dhabi Harlequins - Tries: Els, Hawley, Murphy; Cons: Manning 3; Pens: Manning 6

Man of the match - Jeremy Manning (Harlequins)

DUBAI // As the travelling supporters started the party, it was left to one of the few Abu Dhabi Harlequins players who had a memory of winning a final to apply the exclamation mark.

Graham Murphy, the long-serving prop, burrowed over for an injury-time try.

The ensuing conversion stretched the lead to 20 points, and the capital’s oldest club were back on top of the pile.

The best in the UAE again.

It has been a while.

“It was brilliant because the last few years all we have done is lose to the Dragons,” Murphy said. “The last one we won was in Sharjah three years ago, and there’s not much of us old guard left, so winning this was great as it has been a long time coming.

“Maybe that could be the one win we need. It could set us up, now that we have the monkey off our back.

“We won 10 out of 10 in the Gulf Top Six then lost the final to the Dragons. We still need to get that win against them.”

Given the investment Harlequins have made in youth this season, they might have worried about fulfilling a cup final that clashed with Halloween.

They were already missing one star of their backline because of international commitments, and most of the rest of them should have been out trick or treating rather than playing rugby.

Adel Al Hendi made the trip to Dubai to support his teammates after a day’s exertions playing for the UAE sevens side at Al Ain. He was rewarded with a winners medal for his part in getting the side there.

He might be tired from celebrating this win when he returns for finals day in the Garden City today, though.

Being back on top tasted sweet for a club who have lost out in five major finals in the past two seasons.

Plus, there is the small matter of being Dh15,000 better off when they bank the winner’s cheque this morning.

“I said to the boys in the changing room that I have been here for three years, played in five finals and haven’t won one yet,” the Quins player-coach Jeremy Manning said.

“I just told them not to let it go by and grasp the moment.

“I think they had fun.”

Quins may have missed out on much over the past two seasons, but this was also a second consecutive UAE Premiership final defeat for Dubai Hurricanes, who had finished the league season in first place.

“We gave away too many penalties,” the Hurricanes captain Daniel Perry said.

That was more or less the long and the short of it. When these two sides met in the regular season, Hurricanes won by a point after Manning missed a kick from in front of the posts in the final throes of the game.

Maybe they formed an opinion on his kicking capabilities then, and thought they did not have to worry about giving up penalties. Grave error.

Manning was yesterday in startling form from the kicking tee.

He racked up 24 points via three conversions and six penalties, and only fell short of perfection when he missed a late penalty.

That is not a bad return for somebody who would happily hand over the kicking duties if anyone else fancied it.

“They came with a game plan, executed it well and they were the better team on the night,” Perry said.

“Maybe we lacked a little direction at times, but I could not have asked more from the boys. I thought they were excellent.”

Follow us on twitter at @SprtNationalUAE