The Exiles put their laboured loss to Jebel Ali Dragons far behind them this weekend when they took on the next door neighbours, Dubai Hurricanes. A slow start again dogged the Exiles with Hurricanes applying all of the early pressure.
Some weak tackling from the Exiles, a lost lineout and a succession of penalties saw the Hurricanes scrum half scamper over from a well worked scrum. More pressure followed from the Hurricanes after a missed touch clearance found its way infield letting the Hurricanes build even more pressure which was eventually lifted by Exiles wing Carel Thomas who set off on a mazy run from his own 22.
An offside infringement by the Hurricanes in the middle of the park set the scene for Exiles outside half DuRandt Gerber to step up and slot the goal to put the Exiles on the scoreboard. 7 – 3 to the ‘Canes.
A thumping run from big Exiles centre Justin Walsh saw him crashing over the Hurricanes number 10 and offloading to supporting Matt Mills, the Exiles’ number 7.
A draw and give put scrum half, Ed Armitage into acres of space, he neatly disposed of the Hurricanes full back by releasing wing Carel Thomas to score. 7 – 10 to the Exiles.
After some excellent work near the far side touchline, the Exiles worked themselves into a strong position after Justin Walsh marauded through the middle of a Hurricanes ruck and picked the ball up to work a strong attacking position. A clean take in the lineout from Tom Gregory followed by excellent work by the blind side winger Charlie Sargent released centre Michael Stubbs to score a well executed try. Gerber added the extra points. 7 – 17 Exiles.
An early push at scrum-time by the Hurricanes gave a penalty to the Exiles just in range for the South African number 10. Again Gerber delivered the 3 points, another infringement by the Hurricanes on the half way line was followed by a superb penalty kick from Gerber, suddenly the Exiles were in control.
The Hurricanes were losing shape now and loose kicking to touch and from restarts was compounding their problems. A break down the middle by the Exiles’ big Cameroonian 6 Essome Josue released the big 12, Justin Walsh on another damaging run, a one handed pop pass to supporting centre Michael Stubbs allowed the speedy 13 to release winger Charlie Sargent to score, again converted by Gerber.
It was all getting a bit easy for the Exiles as half time approached and some loose play in the middle of the field allowed the Hurricanes to capitalise and push towards the Exiles try line. A strong catch and drive followed and the Hurricanes crashed over. A superb conversion kick and suddenly the Hurricanes were back in the game.
The second half kicked off with Hurricanes again applying the early pressure but some good play was undone by a needless penalty and they were pushed back to their own 10m line. Both sides were guilty of errors in the early proceedings, the Exiles themselves undoing some great initial attack play with the final pass being too loose when the try line beckoned.
With the Exiles attacking left to right, the Hurricanes had a scrum put-in on the far side on their own 10m line, a poor feed saw the ball come back out of the tunnel only for Exiles scrum half, Ed Armitage, to react the quickest and scoop the ball up. With the referee waving play on, a quick pass to the Exiles 10, DuRandt Gerber who stepped inside the first defender and then fires a long pass to outside centre Michael Stubbs who ghosted between two defenders on his way to another try for the Exiles. Converted by Gerber.
The Hurricanes almost benefited from an interception of a DuRandt Gerber pass on the half way, the Hurricanes winger not quite quick enough to escape the excellent covering work of Justin Walsh, the big centre catching him just 10m short of the try line.
The Exiles were enjoying themselves now, the ball being flung around with plenty of go forward being offered by forwards and backs alike. However, a sustained period of errors and mishandling from both sides ensued and the game was becoming ragged.
Another Gerber penalty followed and the Exiles found themselves 14 – 45 ahead with 8 minutes to go. A good lineout drive near the Exiles try line again rewarded the Hurricanes with a try, their inside centre crashing over, another excellent conversion followed making the score 21 – 45 to the Exiles.
The Exiles rung the changes and while the new players on the field were getting to grips with the pace of the game, the Hurricanes were moving the ball well across their back line and beginning to find holes which weren’t there earlier in the game.
Some excellent running and ball handling down the middle of the park saw the Hurricanes making yards and when the ball was moved out wide, some loose Exiles tackling let the Hurricanes full back cross for another try. It went unconverted, the score now 26 – 45 to the Exiles.
Despite a late sin-binning of Exiles fly half DuRandt Gerber for slapping the ball out of the Hurricanes number 9’s hands, the clock and scoreboard were against the Hurricanes and the Exiles ran out winners.
Final score: Hurricanes 26 – Exiles 45.
