Abu Dhabi Saracens too resilient for Jebel Ali Dragons

Pity Roelof Kotze. His official title is UAE rugby performance manager, but “peacekeeper” might be more accurate if there is any hangover from this bruising encounter at the Centre of Excellence, as Abu Dhabi Saracens turned in a performance that characterised their rise in status in the region.

Gio Fourie, centre, led Abu Dhabi Saracens’ attack with a pair of tries. Saracens scored four in the closing 12 minutes as the physical nature of the match finally took its toll on Jebel Ali Dragons. Show more

JEBEL ALI DRAGONS 3-38 ABU DHABI SARACENS

Jebel Ali Dragons - Pen: Strang

Abu Dhabi Saracens - Tries: Fourie 2, Gage, Hamilton, Morton, Koekemoer; Cons: Reeder 4

Man of the match - Jonathan Taylor (Saracens)

DUBAI // Many players from the opposing sides in this match will pitch up at UAE national team training on Sunday with the intention of playing representative rugby alongside each other later in the year.

Pity Roelof Kotze, who will be tasked with keeping charge of them all. His official title is UAE rugby performance manager, but “peacekeeper” might be more accurate if there is any hangover from this bruising encounter at the Centre of Excellence.

Abu Dhabi Saracens retained their hold on top spot in the Gulf Top Six with a performance on Friday that characterised their rise in status in the sport in the region.

Unyielding and robust, but with a sizeable quotient of finesse, they tore to shreds the side who have dominated Arabian Gulf rugby for the past two years – and it is going to take a mighty effort for anyone to stop them on this evidence.

“When you play against a side like Dragons who are going to give everything to win for their shirt, you have to be patient,” Saracens coach Alistair Thompson said. “Sometimes we lack a bit of patience and for some of the game there was frustration in there, but if we stick to our game plan we can grind teams down.”

That assessment was born out in the run of play.

Saracens scored four tries in the last 12 minutes, with their outstanding hooker Gio Fourie going over for two, as the physical pressure they had inflicted on Dragons finally told.

There was little love lost between the sides. Paul Hart, the Dragons lock, and Jaen Botes, the Saracens No 8 and captain, might have to make up when they meet for UAE trials tomorrow, given they nearly came to blows in the first half.

The feud between the sides came to a head just after the interval when Saracens were denied a try, and Lehan Koekemoer, their second rower, was shown a yellow card for a late hit on Murray Strang.

It could have been worse for the away side.

A number of their players openly suggested it could have been a red card offence, yet, while he was able to return after 10 minutes in the sin bin, it proved beyond Strang to re-enter the field.

The fact Dragons are limping their way out of their period of dominance was encapsulated by both their player-coaches being replaced and nursing injuries.

Strang had a makeshift sling for his shoulder injury, while Sean Crombie was limping with an ankle problem.

To add insult to injury for Dragons, Koekemoer returned to the field and scored a late try to embellish the win for the away side.

“They are a physical team and for everybody at this stage of the season it is a war of attrition in terms of players,” Crombie said.

“The standard has picked up massively in general.

“For us, we have had a little bad luck with injuries, but every credit to Saracens for improving.

“We knew that would happen.”

It looks increasingly likely there will be no Dubai clubs in the season finale, after Saracens and Doha extended the gap between them and the rest.

The Qatar-based side consolidated their place in second in the Gulf Top Six by winning 32-21 against Abu Dhabi Harlequins at Zayed Sports City.

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