Dubai: Abu Dhabi Harlequins maintained their winning record in the Arabian Gulf Prosperity Premiership and edged closer to the top of the table by beating Dubai Dragons at home.
The Harlequins, who won 14-7, are now two points short of Premiership frontrunners Bahrain RFC who have amassed 19 points from four matches, having beaten Dubai Hurricanes 35-16 on Match Day 4. There was joy for the Dubai Exiles, though, as they beat Kuwait Nomads 39-15 on the road.
The Harlequins-Dragons encounter was poised to be a thriller as both sides were previously unbeaten. But Abu Dhabi enjoyed a brighter start with No 10 Murray Strang running a penalty in the 3rd minute and popping another in the 12th to give the visitors a 6-0 lead heading into half-time.
Strang was replaced at halftime with a hamstring strain, but it failed to keep the Quins down and they continued to dominate. Their efforts paid dividends when Simon Osborne scored a try in the 58th minute to take the lead to 11-0.
Seven minutes later Dragons scrum-half Shane Connellan broke down the blind side and ran in unopposed to score. The Dragons converted to cut the lead to 11-7, with 15 minutes left. Tony Matthews then rounded off the scoring when he kicked a 72nd minute penalty to take Abu Dhabi to a 14-7 victory.
The upset among last week's matches was staged by Muscat RFC who beat Doha 31-25 in a nail-biting affair at home.
Emirates League
In the Arabian Gulf Emirates League Championship, Toa Dubai thrashed Dubai Exiles II 74-10 and Al Ain Amblers extended their lead at the top of the table by 26 points with a 40-7 humbling of Dubai Frogs. Abu Dhabi Harlequins II meanwhile were beaten 21-0 at home by Sharjah Wanderers, while the Dubai Hurricanes II beat Arabian Potbellies 33-21.
