ABU DHABI // The two main sporting diversions in the capital on Friday could not have been more contrasting.
There was the option of watching some of the world’s most recognisable sportsmen, dressed in formal trousers, hit a small ball around the rolling fairways of the National Course.
Or, if you like your sport a little more rugged, watching the city’s leading amateur rugby players smash seven bells out of each other.
There had always been a special relationship between Abu Dhabi’s two rugby clubs. But then, Harlequins had always been well ahead of their neighbours, so they could afford to be convivial.
Consider those days over. Four years after their inception, Abu Dhabi Saracens claimed their first win in a capital derby game.
It was not for the faint-hearted. Bear-baiting is more friendly than much of the fare served up at Zayed Sports City.
But that just made it all the more engrossing.
“Play the game – it’s not ballet,” one supporter advised after one of many dubious tackles during a ferocious first half.
Alistair Thompson, the player-coach of Saracens, said his side’s passionate defence had brought about the historic win.
“It is no-holds barred, a derby match where there is a lot of passion,” said Thompson, whose side won thanks to a try by their scrum-half Jonathan Taylor and two kicks from Dougie Steele.
“Emotions were running high, we had our backs against the wall, but we had spoken about being a family on the field, and that is what happened.”
When Saracens was created in 2011, Thompson was a central cog in the opposition, as the highly-successful captain of Harlequins.
Now he is plotting their downfall and he said the master plan of the capital’s youngest club is starting to bear fruit.
“That was always the plan, to gain parity with Harlequins, who are a massive machine,” the Saracens No 8 said.
“They do so much for the city in terms of what they do for community and junior rugby.
“We can only try to emulate what they are doing, and slowly but surely we are coming to the fore.”
Phil Abrahams, the Quins captain, was upbeat in defeat.
He said the improvement Saracens have shown will force his club to raise their standards.
“It was a good physical game,” the Quins hooker said. “Every time we go up against them we try to bring our best game.
“There is something special about these games.
“They have a lot of talent in their team and that is something we appreciate. It raises the standard of rugby in Abu Dhabi.
“That is something we like. It makes us step up and that is good for the overall level of rugby.
“As they get better, hopefully it forces us to get better.”
In the other matches in the competition, Jebel Ali Dragons, the defending West Asia champions, returned to winning ways with a 23-16 win over Bahrain in Saar.
Doha marked themselves out as the team to beat in the Gulf Top Six after following up their thrashing of Harlequins with a similarly comprehensive win against Dubai Hurricanes.
pradley@thenational.ae
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