Bahrain edge Jebel Ali Dragons as players get to grips with new high tackle laws

Bahrain, in red, scored a late try to snatch victory against Jebel Ali Dragons on Friday. Victor Besa for The National

Jebel Ali Dragons 19

Bahrain 22

Dragons: Tries: Reyal, Ewing, Minks, Cons: Bell 2

Bahrain: Tries: Wallace, Chance, Delgarno; Cons: Radley 2; Pen: Radley

Man of the match: Luke Radley (Bahrain)

DUBAI // West Asia rugby returned after its long Christmas break, and it is unlikely there were as many cards given out over the festive period as on the playing fields of the Gulf on Friday.

For example, Adam Wallace, the Bahrain captain, picked up a yellow, and later a straight red on his own.

But the towering inside centre also managed a try and, crucially, his side claimed the win after a compelling clash with Jebel Ali Dragons at The Sevens, Dubai.

Tellingly, there was not a word of complaint from either side after the five yellow cards, or Wallace’s red, were meted out.

This was the first game since the World Rugby-led crackdown on tackling high was passed down, and everyone knew what to expect.

That said, old habits are likely to die hard for some time yet, as the players have to alter defensive techniques many of them have used for their entire rugby careers.

“Everyone knew the consequences of the new laws, myself included,” Wallace said. “Unfortunately, a lot of it comes down to split second decisions. It is tough, especially when it is a last minute change of direction or people ducking in to tackles.

“I’m a lot taller than the guy I went to tackle. I went in low to try to hit the midriff, he ducked in and we ended having a head on head collision.

“Because I am the tackler, it is up to me to show due care, so it was a straight red under the new sanctions.”

Henry Paul, the Dragons coach, praised the officials for the way they managed the first game with their new mandate, and said the players will quickly have to learn a new way to defend.

“You have to be careful now, and there are no excuses,” Paul said. “Everyone has been watching the laws in the Premiership back in England and northern hemisphere rugby. If you go high, even if it is a body check, you have to be careful.”

And neither did the cards affect the spectacle. Both these sides have designs on the top prize at the end of the season, and they provided ample evidence they deserve to be considered contenders.

The Dragons had looked to have shaded it, thanks to tries from Imad Reyal, Sammy Ewing and Daniel Minks, as well as the excellence of flyhalf Dan Bell, who was playing against his old club.

But Aaron Delgarno’s late score gave the visitors a slender win against a side they had thrashed on the opening day of the campaign in Bahrain.

“We caught them off guard at the start of the season, but we have seen their results, we know which way they have been going, and we are good friends with a lot of their boys,” Wallace said.

“We knew they were going to be really strong and it would go to the wire, but we have belief in what Louie [Tonkin] our coach is trying to do, and we knew if we stuck to it, it would bring us through.”

Abu Dhabi Harlequins maintained their unbeaten record at the top of the West Asia Premiership, as they beat Dubai Hurricanes 24-19.

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