Sharks ‘Tanked’ at The Sevens

Conor Kennedy had more tricks than David Copperfield

This first hit-out of the 2024-25 West Asia and UAE Premiership rugby season for the Exiles took place late on Friday night at The Sevens Stadium with the visit of the newly promoted Dubai Sharks. The Sharks already had one Premiership fixture under their belts after visiting the Dubai Hurricanes the week before. The 32 – 0 scoreline didn’t give the men from Al Habtoor Aquarium the justice they deserved – battling to the end against last season’s UAE Premiership finalists.

Exiles captain, John Donnan, gets a cuddle

Moeneeb Galant was accurate

The UAE’s most capped international, Jaen Botes, delivered another powerful performance

It was clear from the very first few minutes of the game that the Sharks hadn’t swam to Pitch 7 of The Sevens Stadium to let the Exiles have everything their own way. Dogged defence in their own 22 in the opening minutes managed to repel some of the Exiles heavier hitters. Exiles‘ Number 9 Francois Myburgh was first to be held up over the line followed Exiles‘ flanker, Epeli Davetawalu, both players being held up off the ground in the score zone.

It was after the Sharks had cleared their line, twice, that alarm bells would have loudly rung for Sharks‘ Head Coach, Josh Ives. The first scrum of the game signalled the Exiles‘ intent to go after the Sharks front five at every opportunity. The Sharks‘ scrum went backwards at a rate of knots before completely capitulating.

With the set-piece dominance established, Exiles‘ fly-half, Handre Snetler, moved the men crewing ‘The Orca’ into the Sharks‘ 22 and from the ensuing lineout and maul, tighthead prop, Duane Aholelei, punched his way over the line to open his, and the Exiles‘ account. 5 – 0 to the Exiles.

UAE international centre, Liam Caldwell, was full of direct running

It had taken 10 minutes for the Exiles to get across the try line and post something on the scoreboard but it was only another five minutes before Jaen Botes, the UAE’s most capped international player, thumped his way over from an Exiles‘ scrum 5 metres from the Sharks‘ line. The Sharks had delivered the blow to themselves with a skewed lineout throw, and when referee, Matt Riley, awarded a scrum to the home side the outcome was inevitable. Converted by Francois Myburgh. 12 – 0 to the Exiles.

For the Exiles it was nowhere near champagne rugby by any stretch of the imagination. The structure that had been worked on so hard during pre-season training failed to properly materialise and the ball was being lost forward despite it being, for October, a relatively dry night in Dubai. The issue for the Sharks, was that despite their enthusiastic defence, and forcing turnovers, the Exiles scrum was so dominant that it didn’t matter which scrum-half was putting the ball in, it was either coming out on the Exiles side or it was a penalty to the Exiles.

It was exactly that series of events that handed Jaen Botes his second try of the game. A Sharks scrum outside the Exiles‘ 22 was ‘tanked’ for Fijian flanker, Epeli Davetawalu, to pick up and make 40 meters before the ball unfortunately found its way into touch. The Sharks went quickly, but when they knocked the ball on the Exiles‘ scrum was too much and with the referee holding out his arm for a penalty advantage Botes thumped his way over. Converted by Francois Myburgh. 19 – 0 to the Exiles.

Tongan, Duane Aholelei, opened his, and the Exiles scoring account

Jaen Botes scored two tries from the base of an extremely dominant Exiles‘ scrum

The Sharks did get onto the scoreboard with a penalty. The Exiles had been penalised for not releasing a tackled player before hunting the ball, the Sharks kicker had duly delivered the first UAE Premiership points in the club’s history. 19 – 3 to the Exiles.

Fly-half, Handre Snetler, with a conversion attempt

Michal Stubbs back in UAE rugby after recovering from an injury

The Sharks had their fins up at this point and were doing their best to try and find a hole in the Exiles‘ defence. As the clock ticked down to half-time however, former Jebel Ali Dragon, Matt Richards found himself on the receiving end of a yellow card and some rest time on one of the the naughty chairs.

The game had sunk into a bit of a flat calm, but with only fourteen Sharks on the field the Exiles were quick to exploit the space generously afforded to them. A dominant scrum, simple hands down the back line and Justin Walsh had too much pace and too much space once fullback Conor Kennedy had delivered the final pass. 24 – 3 to the Exiles. Half Time.

Justin Walsh leaves a trail of destruction

Conor Kennedy got the second half off to a good start for the home side. For very nearly the first time in the game the Exiles put phases of play together that looked similar to what they’d been working on in training on a Tuesday and Thursday night. After pressing hard at the Sharks‘ try line, and the referee judging that the Exiles had again been held up over the line the Sharks‘ try line drop out landed in the hands of Tongan prop, Duane Aholelei.

The Exiles tighthead used his considerable frame to carry the ball back to the Sharks‘ 22 and then on it was quick and simple rugby. Francois Myburgh quick to the ruck, replacement Scottish fly-half Lewis Burns to Stephen Ferguson, and the big Ulsterman second row gave the Sharks‘ defenders too many decisions to make and slotted Conor Kennedy through an enormous hole. Conor still had plenty to do, but with more tricks in his closet than David Copperfield it was try time. Converted by Francois Myburgh. 31 – 3 to the Exiles.

Francois Myburgh was the next add to the try count. With ten minutes on the clock for the second half, Exiles‘ Hooker, Moeneeb Galant, found captain John Donnan high off the ground in the middle of the line. John Donnan delivered to ball to Myburgh, a step that put the Sharks‘ scrum-half and the prop completely off balance, and there was nothing between him and the try line. 36 – 3 to the Exiles.

Francois Myburgh kicked four conversions and scored a try contributing 13 points to the Exiles‘ score

Another member of the Exiles‘ Ulster contingent, summer signing and former Abu Dhabi Harlequin, Gary Andrews was next player to move the Exiles‘ score along. The Sharks were knocking on the door of the Exiles‘ 22 but when they were looking like they might make some inroads, an unfortunate knock-on was quickly pounced upon by Lukas Waddington.

Jaen Botes moved the ball off the ground to Duane Aholelei, a lovely flick pass from UAE captain Matt Mills and Lewis Burns was on the front foot with space. After taking a Sharks‘ defender out of the game the ball was moved along to another Exiles‘ UAE international, centre Liam Caldwell. Once Liam had disposed of the Sharks‘ fullback Gary was left with a 40 metre run to the try line. Converted by Francois Myburgh. 43 – 3 to the Exiles.

Liam Caldwell looks for a way through

Pieter Killian keeps an eye on proceedings

By the mid point of the second half the long working day and late kick off time was clearly taking a toll on the players, of both sides. With the final quarter of the match running down some well earned cold beers were beckoning.

Michael Stubbs went close to scoring, but a foot in touch when he’d worked magic to create space in what little room he had harpooned the opportunity. It was left to teenager Darren Etherington and replacement flanker, Anthony Kapp. to wrap up the Exiles‘ try scoring for the evening. Lewis Burns added the final conversion of the game before referee Matt Riley brought a halt to proceedings. 55 – 3 to the Exiles. Full Time.

Centre, Gary Andrews, heads to the Sharks’ try line

Exiles‘ Head Coach, Jacques Benade, will have been left feeling with mixed emotions. Happy enough with the scoreline but frustrated with some lack of structure and continuity.

The Sharks, in only their second West Asia and UAE Premiership match, will improve. They worked tirelessly in defence and their Head Coach, Josh Ives, has plenty of opportunity to develop the processes he wants to have in place throughout the 2024-25 rugby season.

Head Coach, Jacques Benade, receives socks for Christmas

Liam Caldwell binned the socks receipt

The Pacific Islanders, Jone Bola, Duane Aholelei, Epeli Davetawalu, and junior Exile, Sovaia Davetawalu.

DUBAI EXILES RFC V DUBAI SHARKS

West Asia Super Rugby  / UAE Premiership (11th October 2024) – The Sevens Stadium