ABU DHABI HARLEQUINS LADIES – TOURNAMENT 1 (DUBAI EXILES)

23/10/2009

Abu Dhabi Harlequins Ladies– Tournament 2 (DOHA ORYX)

Double Header Match Report

Friday 23rd October, 2009:

With a win under their belts in the opening tournament of the season in Dubai, Harlequins went to Doha as the team everyone in the league wanted to beat.

Abu Dhabi vs Dubai Exiles Win 14-5

The versatility of the squad was evident with a new look back line of Helen at fly, Estelle at centre and Laura on the wing, took on a strong Exiles team in their first game of the day. The girls started well, with Rachel doing the simple things well and drawing her opposition and putting together a string of passes that resulted in Tiffany who dummied and scored her first try of the day within the first minute of the game. The girls were tackling well and big hits lead to turnovers, but the girls just couldn’t cross the line. Abu Dhabi were under a lot of pressure and being held in contact by a strong Exiles team who crossed the try line after 5 minutes, 7-5 to Abu Dhabi. Now looking rattled, Abu Dhabi began to up their game and put the pressure on in the scrum and won some good possession. Half time saw the introduction of Sorrell, Kellyann and Jennifer (Shorty). Rachel began the second half with fire in her belly and put in some huge hits, one of which resulted in a penalty for Abu. Tiffany stole a ball from an Exiles line out, it came back to Sorrell who ran through three Exiles girls and got the pass away to Rachel, who in turn passed to Tiffany who went through and was clear to score until the ref controversially called a forward pass! Helen and Estelle held up an Exiles player who took the ball to contact, they turned the ball over, popped to Tiffany who whipped it out to Sorrell who had another strong run up the wing to give Abu Dhabi a badly needed score. Once again Estelle converted. 14-5 to Abu Dhabi. As Harlequins coach Kevin Ashdown said, “it’s a sign of a good team, to be able to play badly and win”!

Abu Dhabi vs Doha Trojans Win 41-5

Onwards and upwards, Doha Trojans were up next. Abu Dhabi had now settled and were playing their game. Helen began the scoring spree after 20 seconds with a try from kick off against her old team. From here on there was some great lines ran from Laura and Michelle and some huge tackles from Hillary. Tries from Laura, another one from Helen and Rachel had the score at 24-0 at half time. Doha having to take any advantage they could in this one sided game, had a quick restart with two members of the Abu team not even on the pitch. They took a short kick, collected and sprinted to the line to score in the corner, with 5 Abu ladies chasing her down, 24-5. The dominance of the scrum in this game saw Harlequins win a number of Trojan scrums. The possession they won from these and smart, patient play allowed Abu Dhabi to continue with their scoring spree with a try for Jennifer and two for Kellyann. Final score 41-5 to Abu Dhabi.

Abu Dhabi vs Doha Oryx Win 36-0

A win against Doha Oryx was crucial to top our pool and go through to the final. Doha who are always strong at home in the Fortress had made little of Dubai Exiles in their previous game, didn’t have what it took to put away the Abu Dhabi Harlequins. Harlequins knew they needed a win and were defending like their lives depended on it. The pressure they were putting on Doha was intense and the line was up quicker than it had been all season. Doha didn’t have time to put anything together. An interception from Laura on the wing and some strong running resulted in try number one for Abu Dhabi. Doha did not let this stop them and they threw the kitchen sink at Abu Dhabi, not wanting them to gain momentum. Sorrell and Estelle had put in some big tackles on a strong Doha pack and this resulted in a couple of turnovers. With Kellyann running some great lines the next try was inevitable. Jennifer popped to Estelle from the base of a ruck who ran through to score another try and followed through with her own conversion. Another try from Laura just before half time left the score 17-0 to Abu Dhabi. Captain Uren, summed up the first half performance by complementing the girls “intensity, desire and composure” in the first half and said she couldn’t ask for more from any of the team. They vowed not to let off the pressure and to play to their game plan. They did just as they were asked and the superior handling, tackling and rucking from Abu Dhabi was showcased in the second half. Handling from scrums from Jennifer to Estelle was exemplary, Tiffany was like a terrier in the rucks, Hillary was her solid self in defense and Kellyann was running some great lines and looking fitter than ever. The second half saw tries from Estelle (2) and Kellyann. Full time whistle 36-0 to Harlequins.

FINAL: Abu Dhabi vs Dubai Hurricanes Lost 10-14

With the ground work done and Abu back to full flow, the eagerly anticipated final game against the Hurricanes lived up to the usual standard and intensity that we come to expect between these teams. By far the best game of the day, it was clear to see why both teams have so many ladies on the Arabian Gulf squad. One of the touch judges said it was the best game of sevens he had seen in a while and reckoned you’d be hard pushed to see a game as tough and fast with the level of skill in a men’s game in the Gulf. Hurricanes speed in defense is something they pride themselves in, and Friday was no exception. Abu Dhabi did not have much time on the ball before the Canes were up in their faces. Tiffany, who is now getting used to turning over ball in lineouts, stole a Hurricane line out to win valued possession for Abu. But solid defense from Hurricanes lead to a turnover. Despite a cracking tackle from Estelle, Hurricanes were first to cross the line with a strong try from Jenny Thompson. Abu put some good pressure on the Canes from here and put together some good phases of play, but eventually resulting in a knock on and a scrum to Canes. From the scrum, Jennifer put fierce pressure on the Canes scrum half and there were no easy balls given away. But it wasn’t to be and a sprint from the 22 to the posts began with Kellyann chasing her Arabian Gulf team mate, catch her she did but just before the line and Bennett just managed to get the ball over the line despite being held by Kellyann. Half time 14-0 to Hurricanes. The intensity was upped in the second half and it really was a game of two halves for Abu Dhabi. The pressure they exerted on the Canes was evident from the amount of knock-on’s and scrums that there were. It was tit for tat in the second half, when Captain Estelle was told that there was two minutes left in the game, she knew she had to do the business. She went through and around five Hurricanes to score a massive individual try. One minute on the clock and she was like a possessed demon, great tackling from Rachel lead to a turnover and you guessed it, who finished it off? Uren went through for another one. 14-10 to Canes and twenty seconds left on the clock. From the kick off, Hurricanes received and kicked to touch thinking that time would be up, but to no avail. Abu Dhabi the more focused and alert took a quick line out and through it all at the Canes. But their defense held strong and didn’t let Abu through. Another epic, nail biting battle between two top class teams bringing the Hurricanes closer to Abu in the table, but thankfully Harlequins are still top of the table heading to Kuwait in two weeks time.

Player of the tournament: Estelle Uren

Player of the day for Abu Dhabi was also voted by the referees as player of the tournament, congratulations to Abu Dhabi Captain, Estelle Uren.

Abu Dhabi Harlequins Ladies Team:
Sorrell Bootham, Tiffany Allard, Rachel Proops, Jennifer Matheson, Estelle Uren, Kellyann Davey, Laura McMahon, Helen Martin, Hillary Gibson, Emma Cox, Michelle Jones, Lucy Jones.
Coach: Kevin Ashdown.

Back to News