Friday evening rugby at Dubai Sports City with host club Dubai Knights-Eagles Ladies was another tough, but very competitive outing for the young ladies of Dubai Exiles RFC.
Lots of hard carrying from this young lady
Jess McKillop grabbed a handful of tries
In the first of 3 games, seven-a-side, 7 minutes each way, of the tri-tournament Exiles Under 19 Girls narrowly lost out to neighbours Dubai Hurricanes Under 19 Girls in what was a hugely entertaining and competitive rugby match.
The second of the 3 games was a much bigger challenge against Dubai Knight-Eagles Ladies. The Kn’Eagles ladies rugby side has been strong in recent years.
Kn’Eagles Ladies had opened the scoring after some loose tackling for the Exiles Ladies allowed them to cross the try line. The repost from Exiles Ladies was almost immediate. Some good hands in the centre of the park saw the ball moved out to wing, Charlotte McNaughton. The fleet footed youngster still had plenty of work to do. After outpacing the initial defender, Charlotte delivered the perfect in and out and sat the last Knights-Eagles defender on the floor to run and score under the posts.
There are some lovely people in Dubai, Exiles‘ coach, Epeli Davetawalu is one of them
Jess McKillop was next to get on the scoreboard for the Exiles Ladies. After nearly breaking away down the right hand wing Exiles moved the ball infield only to be turned over at the next ruck. When the opportunity seemed lost some wild offloading from Knights-Eagles Ladies handed the ball back to the girls in black. A good pass from Liv Pollard, some great footwork from Jess and Exiles were under the posts.
The significantly more experienced and older heads of the Kn’Eagles Ladies showed on the poorly lit pitch by the end of the match. The Kn’Eagles white scrum capped number 12 looked like a class act and caused all sorts of problems for the Exiles‘ defense all game and contributed significantly to the Kn’Eagles win.
The Kn’Eagles 12, Carmella Morral, had a wonderful game
Keelin Usher finished a great move with a score
The final match of the evening was against Dubai Sharks Ladies, a team that Exiles Ladies had beaten heavily in their first outing in UAE senior ladies rugby. It’s amazing what impact confidence can have. After a couple of n’nervy’ opening fixtures, the Exiles clearly felt confident against the Dubai Sharks Ladies. Tackles were firmer, passing was crisper and the questionable off-loads had disappeared.
Charlotte McNaughton proved she has great feet and plenty of speed!
As the first half drew to a close, the extra crispness and accuracy in everything that the Exiles Ladies were doing was displayed both on the pitch and on the scoreboard. Three unanswered tries had been scored and Exiles were up 17 points to 0.
The opening score of the seance half was a cracker. Exiles played out from their own 22 when big carrying French teenager Jania Vandevoorde broke away. Eventually hauled down near the half way line, Liv Pollard carried the attack and some wonderful footwork got her up into the Sharks‘ 22. The ball was moved from left to right and then back again, for Keelin Usher to cross the line and score.
Isabel Ellis attracts more high tackles than JPR Williams
When the final whistle blew, Exiles Ladies had added another try and conversion and left for The Sevens with a 29 – 0 final scoreline.
Dubai Exiles U19 Grls & Ladies v Dubai Hurricanes U19 Girls & Dubai Knights-Eagles Ladies
Dubai Sports City (30 April 2021)
