Exiles ‘Go Forwards’ against Abu Dhabi Harlequins

Current UAE Premiership Champions, the Abu Dhabi Harlequins, were the visitors to Pitch 7 at The Sevens Stadium on Saturday afternoon. The team from the capital had beaten league leading Dubai Tigers the weekend before (24 – 29) and blown the race for the UAE Premiership title wide open.

The Exiles and Harlequins had played each other three times in the 2021-22 rugby season, the Exiles had two narrow wins during the regular season, but the Harlequins had won the one that mattered the most – The 2022 Premiership Rugby final.

Abu Dhabi Harlequins run on to pitch 7

Brad Owako heads out of The Sevens changing rooms

It was another busy Saturday afternoon at Dubai Exiles RFC. The Exiles‘ clubhouse balcony played host to the gathered Exiles and Abu Dhabi supporters who had come to see how a much rejuvenated Exiles Premiership side would fare against the visiting UAE Premiership Champions from the capital.

For the Exiles, it wasn’t the most encouraging of starts. Handre Snetler‘s kick off had run out of steam before travelling the obligatory 10 metres and the visiting Abu Dhabi Harlequins had a scrum on the centre spot. Less than a minute later the UAE Champions had a penalty in exactly the same place, much to the delight of the travelling Harlequins supporters.

The Exiles showed their intent with aggressive defence from the penalty line-out that forced a handling error from the visitors, the pass missing the Harlequins wing and the ball going straight into touch outside the Exiles‘ 22.

Epeli Davetawalu had another hard carrying game

Handre Snetler scored 11 points

The opening exchanges were typical of recent meetings between the two clubs. Hard and direct running, no quarter given and none asked. Some brutal carries by the men-in-black into the heart of the Abu Dhabi Harlequins defence caught the Quins’ hooker off guard at a ruck forcing referee, James Fairbourn, to award a very kickable penalty to the Exiles. Handre Snetler stepped up and accepted the 3 points. 3 – 0 to the Exiles.

Signs of Exiles‘ intent to try and dominate their opponents up front appeared with 10 minutes on the clock. Hooker, Dave Gairn, hit a line-out on the Exiles‘ 10m line. A maul formed and the Exiles proceeded to drive almost 50 metres up field, just when they looked likely to drive all the way for the opening try over excitement from the Exiles‘ half backs Carel Thomas and Handre Snetler fell flat and play was pulled back for an offside penalty to Exiles.

The penalty count was beginning to amount against the visiting Abu Dhabi Harlequins, 13 minutes were on the clock, four penalties had already been leaked. Five penalties. The Exiles drove over the line, but failed to ground the ball and much to the relief of the UAE Champions, they were given a drop out from their in-goal.

Referee, James Fairbourn, has a chat with Harlequins

Scrum half, Carel Thomas, feeds the scrum

The Harlequins found themselves back under pressure almost immediately. Their scrum was under all sorts of pressure and after being judged to have collapsed one on their own 22m line, the Exiles were on the attack once again in the corner with a line-out. Another penalty by the Harlequins and the Quins’ hooker found himself getting a 10 minute rest.

Less than a minute later and the Harlequins were down to 13 players. Exiles captain, Pieter Killian, had been on the receiving end of a careless dump tackle and was fortunate to be dropped on his back and not on his head. Penalty to Exiles. Exiles back in the corner. Tight head prop, Brad Tuff, crashed over the line for the game’s opening try. Converted by Handre Snetler. 10 – 0 to the Dubai Exiles.

At this point the Exiles appeared to be in control of every facet of the game, The Harlequins were, on average, giving away a penalty every 3 minutes. However, much against the run of play, it was the visitors who enjoyed the next score. Almost all of the opening 30 minutes had been played in the Harlequins‘ half and the Exiles had been guilty of over complicating many their scoring opportunities.

The Harlequins had earned a scrum on the Exiles‘ 5m, the visitor’s Number 8 picked up the ball and and thumped his way over the line to score. 10 – 5 to the Exiles.

There were a few alarm bells ringing for the men-in-black. They’d blown a significant lead in the previous season’s UAE Premiership Final against the Harlequins and were fully aware that their opposition had chased down the Dubai Tigers at Sports City the week before. Harlequins rugby may not always be pretty – but it can be extremely effective!

As half-time approached, Harlequins indiscipline again curtailed their progress. Penalty to th Exiles, the ninth of the half, Dave Gairn found Ulsterman John Donnan from a line-out almost 30 metres out. Another driving maul and this time Exiles‘ Number 8, Jaen Botes, crashed over near the posts. Converted by Handre Snetler. 17 – 5 to Exiles.

With most spectators gathered n the galleries and around the pitch anticipating the half-time whistle, play continued. The Abu Dhabi Harlequins restarted. Exiles‘ lock, Shane Weweje, looked to have been tackled in the air while attempting to gather the kick off, but play went on. A couple of phases later and the Quins had a scrum on the Exiles‘ 5m line. A bang, crash and a big wallop, a penalty taken quickly, 5 points to the Harlequins. Converted. 17 – 12 to the Dubai Exiles. Half Time and game very much on.

Whatever Exiles‘ Director of Rugby, Jacques Benade, said to the team at half time seemed to have an immediate effect. Abu Dhabi Harlequins got the second half underway. From a maul, Jaen Botes showed a superb pair of hands to lift a dying pass from his bootlaces, three or four quick phases and Fijian flanker, Epeli Davetawalu, was presented with a big whole in the Abu Dhabi defence which he eagerly accepted.

When the powerful Fijian was finally hauled down in the Harlequins‘ 22, scrum half Carel Thomas was hot on his heels and delivered a perfect pass for teenage wing, Alfie Wilson, to score in the corner. 22 – 12 to Exiles.

It was evident that the Exiles had fitted another gear at half time. More hard running from Epeli Davetawalu and Number 8, Jaen Botes, was causing all sorts of problems for the Harlequins‘ defence. With just 6 minutes of the second half played the men-in-black were in for their second try of the half, Exiles‘ captain, Pieter Killian, drove over the line from a ruck and added another 5 points. Converted by Handre Snetler. 29 – 12 to Exiles.

Hooker, Moeneeb Galant, shows his scrum face.

The next score would be of vital importance. Harlequins needed to get back in the chase and Exiles for all intents and purposes would put the game of bed. The score came from an Exiles line-out on the Quins’ 5m line. Replacement hooker, Moeneeb Galant delivered the throw to Jaen Botes, the maul was set, it rumbled forward, and Moeneeb Galant got an armchair ride over the try line. 34 – 12 to Exiles.

At 34 points to 12 the Exiles still couldn’t rest on their laurels. The Harlequins were still a threat, especially in the middle of the field, where their two large centres were proving to be a constant handful.

James Fairbourn awards a try to the Exiles

With less than 13 minutes of the game left, another penalty conceded by Harlequins was kicked to the corner. Reminiscent of ‘Edge of Tomorrow’, an identical maul, identical drive, identical outcome, but a different scorer. It was second row, John Donnan, who crossed the Abu Dhabi Harlequins line to score for the Exiles. 39 – 12.

John Donnan had another big day in the engine room

The Harlequins did get another try as the clock began to run down. Their third try went a long way to adding a lot of excitement to what had become a win for the Exiles. With both teams on an equal footing in the UAE Premiership table, the Exiles were desperate to deny their visitors any form of bonus point.

With two minutes left on the clock, another penalty to the Exiles, and another 5m line-out. This time the Harlequins stood back and tried to catch out the inevitable Exiles‘ maul. Experienced Number 8, Jaen Botes, didn’t fall for it, after he’d gathered the line-out, he saw the Quins players stepping backwards, turned and drove the ball over the line. Converted by Handre Snetler. 46 – 17 to the Exiles. Final Score.

Jaen Botes scores the last of the Exiles’ 7 tries

DUBAI EXILES RFC vs ABU DHABI HARLEQUINS

West Asia / UAE Premiership (4th February 2023) – The Sevens