The Arabian Gulf dug deep to produce a performance full of character but still went down 19-9 to Kazakhstan in the Asian Championships in Hong Kong yesterday.
It was the Gulf's second defeat in the tournament following a disappointing 32-6 reverse against Singapore on Thursday.
But the team stepped up to the plate against the Kazakhs and managed to find an intensity and sense of purpose which was so clearly lacking in the Singapore defeat.
The former Russian republic are renowned for their physical approach and did not disappoint with a typically raw and muscular effort.
But the Gulf stuck to their guns well, tackled their hearts out and were at least able to walk off the pitch with heads held high.
The forwards, led by the gutsy efforts of Jason Brown (Dubai Hurricanes) and Tim Nunan (Doha), stood toe-to-toe with their opponents while there were also impressive displays from prop Mohammad Obaid (Jordan) - winning his first full cap - and Jason Clark (Abu Dhabi).
Jimmy Larsen, of the Dubai Exiles, put the Gulf in front with a third minute penalty while the stand-off was narrowly wide with a 40-metre effort soon afterwards.
The Kazakhs pulled back a kick midway through the half before Larsen then hit an upright and then the crossbar with penalty attempts of his own.
Yet despite this pressure, it was Kazakhstan who turned around in front thanks to an injury-time penalty. That lead was stretched to 9-3 early in the second half before Larsen landed a second kick of his own in the 55th minute.
Skipper Gareth Allum then took on kicking duties and levelled the scores with a superb effort from the left touchline some 30 metres out in the 63rd minute.
Asian Championship results: India 56 Pakistan 3; China 30 Sri lanka 16, Macau 0 Pakistan 55, Singapore 41 Thailand 34.
