13 – 14 February
Dubai Exiles Tournament
Under 14s Report
Our arrival time at the ground and the draw prepared by Exiles ensured we should have had the first two matches played before we arrived, unfortunately that also meant we still had to play them. This resulted in a congested mid day and afternoons Rugby with little time for eating or organizing but the team still managed to investigate the option of using our scrum halves as line out jumpers. Possibly better described as thrown rather then lifted but it confirmed that the new generation of forwards can think on their feet. (I will now be ribbed mercilessly from every forward I have ever met and no doubt some I have yet to meet). Starting slowly after an early morning flight is part and parcel of living in Doha but I was impressed by the focus and commitment the team displayed in the early pool matches. Playing bigger and better drilled teams is never easy and relegation to the Plate competition was sadly to follow. After an enjoyable day at the “The Seven’s” venue it was off to the Premier Inn, only “ten minutes” from the grounds. Unfortunately we didn’t have Keith’s helicopter but we still managed to beat some of the other teams to the hotel who left before us, proving that there is indeed more than one way to skin a cat.
Saturday arrived bright and sunny and after a good night’s sleep and a healthy breakfast we completed the last two pool games on an impressive note. The Semi Final played against the French Frogs was an open running game with plenty of big hits. The forward pack dominated the set pieces which allowed us to pressure them into mistakes and maintain our momentum toward the Plate Final. The tackling improved immensely by all after Benji showed everybody how it was meant to be done and once the opposition had been hit they lost concentration and the ability to catch the ball.
The Final was a re-match against Dubai Exiles 2 who had narrowly beaten us in the pool game and the team went out looking to avenge that result. The first half was all Doha with a completely dominant set piece and slick handling in the backs only kept out by a ferocious defence and some last meter tackles pushing our flying wingers into touch. Mention here must go to AJ our prop who made it from the front of a scrum in time to back up and take a pass from the wing before being “lightly bumped” into touch. Half time arrived and the Dubai Exiles coach must have had stern words with his team as they came out of the starting blocks breathing fire. Doha could not maintain the momentum and the game became a war of attrition with the Exiles eventually running out winners.
I would like to congratulate all who participated in this team and can only point at the improvement as the weekend passed indicating that the more rugby you play the better you become. Let’s look forward to the next match and start preparing our minds, bodies and parents.
Coach - Colin McIsaac