Xodus Wasps prove to be a test for superior Jebel Ali Dragons

High-stakes opening game played in the right spirit, writes Paul Radley.

Stakes were high for Friday night’s game between Xodus Wasps, in yellow, and Jebel Ali Dragons. Clint McLean for The National

Xodus Wasps 5

Jebel Ali Dragons 31

Wasps – Tries Woolacott

Dragons – Tries Overton 2, Botha, Reyal, Taylor; Cons Russell 3

Man of the match Andy Russell (Dragons)

DUBAI // Six months is a long time without competitive rugby. After a long, hot off-season the country’s leading players were finally let off the leash on Friday night.

They had clearly been missing the rough and tumble, judged by a spiteful meeting between Jebel Ali Dragons, the defending champions, and Xodus Wasps Dubai at The Sevens, Dubai.

The region’s elite side proved just why the game here holds them in such high esteem, with the majority of their five tries being slick backline moves of high quality.

But they knew they were in a game. Or, more accurately, a fight. Taif Al Delamie, the winger, was stretchered off and taken to hospital with concussion after receiving an accidental knock to the head while making a tackle.

Furthermore, regular brawls between the two teams increased in venom as the match wore on.

It was at such times that the referee could have done with a couple of extra sets of neutral eyeballs to help him out.

The elite competition in the country had three officials spread between the two opening night matches on the neighbouring fields here as the pool of qualified arbiters available was stretched to the limit this ­weekend.

So the other three positions assisting the referees were filled by willing volunteers from either side.

When teammates of the players on the field were being asked to rule on borderline calls concerning their mates, there was always going to be a problem.

“I thought the ref ran the game well, but from what I can remember from last year, I thought we had two neutral touch judges,” said Murray Strang, the Dragons coach.

“I think the ref has too much to do to have subs from either team as touch judges.

“It was a real rough game but I thought it was played in the right spirit. The Dragons are aware they were in a very tough game and that Wasps have improved a lot.”

It was little wonder Wasps had such fire in their game. As if losing all their matches in this competition last season was not incentive enough, they also had to deal with a heavy fine – which they feel is unjust – being passed down to them by the UAE Rugby Federation on the eve of the game.

Martin Southern, the Wasps director of rugby, said his side had achieved one goal by way of this fixture – namely, proving that they are no pushovers.

“We came here to earn respect,” said Southern, who was overseeing his first match since being appointed to his new role in the summer.

“We came last last season. We are not going to come last this season.

“We started to believe in ourselves, we started to knock these guys back and it wasn’t our bodies who were left on the floor, it was the Dragons.”

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