Dubai Exiles returned to the top of the Arabian Gulf League with a useful victory away to Bahrain but champions Dubai Dragons and Abu Dhabi still appear to be the leading contenders for the title.
It was a good weekend for the Exiles, who followed up a 58-0 home success over struggling Kuwait Nomads by bagging six points for a 36-5 triumph in Bahrain with lock Oliver Jones claiming an impressive hat-trick of tries.
But the Exiles have already lost three matches in the current campaign and that means the Dragons unbeaten in eight outings and Abu Dhabi, who are eight from nine, are the two leading contenders.
Intriguingly, the sides clash at the Al Gazzal Golf Club on Thursday in a match which could well decide the destiny of the championship. Abu Dhabi warmed up for this vital game with a 101-3 thrashing of Kuwait with Argentinean centre Juan Allendez, in only his second outing for the Bats, claiming two tries and booting 13 conversions for a personal haul of 36 points.
Winger Zane West and centre Quewan Frame both crossed four times but the man-of-the-match award went to Wayne Marsters for his efforts at flanker.
The Dragons, meanwhile, recorded a solid 43-8 success away to Dubai Hurricanes at the Dubai Country Club.
Skipper Mick Zaicek, centre Paul Austin, fly-half Sebastian Mouchet, young Will Wood and full-back Nicoli de Marco were among the try scorers for the visitors.
Doha, meanwhile, had to work hard for a 17-10 success away to Muscat, who at one stage led by 10 points and appeared to be heading for their first win of the campaign.
The Qatari club, though, dug deep to pull back two penalties through Dave Burness before the break, while another kick early in the second half reduced the deficit to a point.
The decisive play of the game saw flanker Mike McKnight charge down an attempted clearance kick and man-of-the-match Ben Green dive on the loose ball for a vital try.
Clash between Dubai Dragons and Abu Dhabi on Thursday could well decide the destiny of the championship.
