Success-starved Bats get ready for the party

Abu Dhabi: After a six-year wait the Bats and their large band of fans are likely to make it a night of partying on May 30 when they mark the end of a fantastic season.

The Abu Dhabi Rugby Club scored a remarkable triumph when they won the Gulf Arabian Cup recently, their first success since their 2002 league triumph.

The win was sweetened by the fact they beat a formidable Dubai Hurricanes 24-19 at Al Ain stadium, a team who they had lost to twice earlier in the season. On the way to the final they also trounced Dubai Dragons 34-0 and got the better of Doha 38-7 in the semifinals played at home.

'Well-deserved win'

An elated Abu Dhabi's captain Ali Thompson said, "It was a well-deserved win and each one of the boys did themselves and the club proud."

The club's chairman Richard Harris was equally delighted with the win and said it was all teamwork.

"The sport is growing in the region and is highly competitive. This win is something on which we can build on," said the South African, who has seen Abu Dhabi Junior Rugby grow from 700 kids playing to 1,200 in just three seasons.

The 35-man squad boasting 13 nationalities has been brimming with talent this season, and includes scrum-half Simon Walster, whose martialling of the forwards has been outstanding, while flanker Austin Relton, No 8 Ali Thompson and South Africans Michael Stain, David Stolzenberg and Alten Nortje have injected some much-needed impetus into the team's play.

Aubrey Roberts, the only surviving member from the 2002 League-winning Bats squad, played a key part in the Bats' forwards' dominance while Mark Simon, Pete Sampson, Matt Holzl chipped in with useful contributions.

Earlier in the season the Abu Dhabi Rugby Club's Veterans 10s won at the Dubai 7s.

With this campaign coming to an end, Abu Dhabi and its fans will be looking forward to another big season after the summer break.