Defending champions Bahrain defeated Abu Dhabi Harlequins 35-17 at Zayed Sports City in the UAE capital last night, securing their second consecutive victory in the 2023-24 West Asian Premiership Rugby League.
Bahrain are looking to win their fourth consecutive title after scoring a championship-winning hat-trick in 2022-23, completing their current campaign with a 32-23 win over visiting Doha Rugby two weeks ago. I started with a good start. The Football Center (Doha RFC) team play their season opener in front of a packed home crowd at Bahrain Rugby Football Club (BRFC).
BRFC chairman Mike Cunningham told GDN over the phone from Abu Dhabi: “We are delighted to have won away against a very strong Quins side.”
“The forward pack was absolutely solid and dominant, destroying Quinn’s scrums time and time again. And the backs, with their blistering speed and veteran Dana Molete playing at scrum-half, played exceptionally well from their own half. “He was able to play well in the centre, linking up with his half-back partner.
Bahrain flyhalf Mason Porteous, who played a key role in his side’s victory over Doha RFC, was singled out for praise by Cunningham after another inspired performance.
“Mason Porteous had another great game and as usual he scored a lot of points from the start,” said the BRFC president.
“What a reliable kicker he is. And it was great to see Graham Bishop come back and play for Bahrain on the wing, and always great to see Matthew Mackie continue to defend goal. I’m happy for him. He’s one of the guys that’s been with me since he left the Colts, so it’s great to see him playing and still enjoying his rugby.”
Cunningham added that this game also marked the return of assistant coach Lindsey Gibson after a surgical hiatus.
“I was really happy to have Lindsey Gibson back after surgery. He came off the bench and did great as a hooker.”
With the four points gained from this win plus a bonus point, Bahrain now have nine points from their last two games, moving them to the top of the seven teams, ahead of Harlequins, who have eight points from three games.
“We got a bonus point for five tries,” Cunningham said.
“So we’ve had a good start to our campaign and we’ll see how the rest of the season goes. It was a tough game – it’s always a tough game when you come to Abu Dhabi and this one was no different – but , our victory was thanks to our forwards, who completely overwhelmed our opponents.
“That gave us a good foundation for the backs with their speed and pace, and the creativity of the players, the halfback partnerships and the fly half-out in the centre, the wingers combining for an overall win. It gave me strength.”
Cunningham said there was a festive atmosphere during the game, with a large crowd loudly pleading for Harlequins to continue playing. “Quins had a game scheduled right after junior rugby practice, so there was a big crowd,” he explained.
“Many of the young players stayed to watch the match with their parents, so it was a great atmosphere and great support for the home team, a bit similar to what you get in Bahrain. Unfortunately, they couldn’t get the win.”
Bahrain’s next match will be a home game against Jebel Ali Dragons on October 28th at BRFC. Last season, Bahrain beat the Dragons both at home and away, and last November they defeated the Dragons 34-10 at home before suffering a crushing defeat. They went 43-12 at Jebel Ali Center of Excellence in January.
