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04/03/2010

Bahrain vs Abu Dhabi Quins

It was clear to everyone who touched down in the humid choking dust of Bahrain that the seasons in the Arabian Peninsular were on the change. One look at the potted dustbowl of a pitch showed it was a far cry from the torrential and unexpected floods that had meant this fixture, originally set for cool December, was being fought in a February sandstorm.

The Abu Dhabi team, needing a bonus point win with a margin greater than seven, were cruelly shorn of a fist-full of starters. A new-look backline saw Pip Davy in at outside centre, Fraser Doake on one wing and Geoff “Banahan” plucked from the engine room to fill the number eleven jersey. David Boyd came off the bench to start at nine and “Evergreen” Austin Relton packed down in the second row.

The first period was cagey and laboured. The Abu flankers, Sam Cook and Jamie Clarke slowed the Bahrain ball up beautifully at the break down but the men in red’s speed around the pitch and strength in the tackle meant that Abu were having difficulty in gaining any continuity either. Two early penalty chances for both side went begging and with defense dominant the siege-gun boots of Murrey Strang and the Bahrain Fullback were the most effective way of gaining territory. The Abu lineout functioned well with Grahame Murphy, tossed the ball at the eleventh hour, throwing well but the scrum was where the men from the Emirates really came to the party. Having sported the lightest front-row in the league for most of the season the addition of Alex Rodgers and John MacCoppin turned them into one of the heaviest, and the effect was tangible. The Bahrain pack was continuously shunted back giving them scrappy possession and turning the ball over regularly.

The sweltering conditions and physical nature of the game was beginning to take its toll and as the game started to open up it was Abu Dhabi who made the most of the space. The ball was put through several phases with and Fraser Doake making good yards down the right. The ball came back and with a four on two overlap Abu tried in vain to butcher the chance with the ball being flipped all over the place before Ali Thompson found the talons of Tony O’Mathews who dummied over from close range.

The opposition reply was swift and effective. Faced with a two on three on halfway the Bahrain fullback chipped deftly, gathered the rebound and in the same movement flipped the ball to their winger. A brilliant cover tackle by Jamie Clarke (who was omnipresent in defense) and another by Fraser Doake halted the move., but a penalty and quick tap put their center under the sticks. Things didn’t improve for the visitors when from a breakdown Bahrain went blind, the flyhalf drew his man and released the winger to cruise in from the twenty-two.
In the second half again very little quarter was given by either side. The breakdowns became messier and neither side seemed to be able to get a toe-hold. Penalties were swapped by the respective tens but the game seemed to be petering out. Luckily the ref decided to season the rather bland concoction with a liberal sprinkling of yellow cards, five in total coming in little more than twenty minutes.  In between two Bahrain yellows Jamie Clarke was given ten for a high tackle and soon thereafter Alex Rogers was asked to leave for a late shoulder-charge, cleverly spotted by the referee’s assistant.

The decreased number of players on the pitch lent new momentum to the flagging teams and the game entered a frantic final quarter with Abu only trailing by seven points. Some oppressive and sustained pressure by Abu Dhabi saw them camped in the Bahrain half for five minutes before some smart play and five pair of hands put Geoff “Banahan” [lastname] over in the corner. With the conversion missed this left ‘Quins just two points adrift but only a few minutes left to play. Unfortunately the men in Red closed the game out and, after a brief dip in the pool, an under-strength Abu Dhabi had the flight back to reflect on coming so close to a team that had been unbeaten all year.

Bahrain will hold no fear for the men from the capital when they come to Fortress Gazal in two weeks time and Abu should fancy their chances in the cup final too. ‘Quins will know that a full strength side will easily eclipse this much vaunted but ultimately tame Bahrain team, home or away.

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