Bahrain steamroller Muscat to open gap at top

Bahrain, for twenty years the dominant team in Arabian Gulf rugby are well on their way to regaining former glories.

Last weekend they absolutely annihilated Muscat running in thirteen tries, with nine players contributing. Muscat’s cause was seriously damaged in only the second minute of the game when a freak collision saw their top scorer Johan De Lange and another senior player Ross O’Loughlin have to leave the field for the remainder of the game.

Bahrain were on the scoreboard in the sixth minute and from that point on applied relentless pressure to the home team. Superior fitness levels and better organisation saw Bahrain dominate throughout although to Muscat’s credit they did not let their heads drop and did manage to score two tries of their own.

A final score of 83-12 sends out a massive message to the entire Gulf region that Bahrain are back and are going to take some stopping in their bid to win their first title since 1996. Back in their heyday they won the title 13 times in a twenty year period between 1975 and 1996.

Bahrain’s title hopes were given an extra boost when Dubai Exiles put in the performance of their season in defeating the visiting Abu Dhabi Harlequins 22-15 and thereby ending their sixteen game winning streak. Reigning champions Quins, who had not been defeated since January 2009 now trail Bahrain by five points and will need to regroup quickly if they are to provide credible opposition throughout on the run to the line.

 

 

Arabian Gulf Prosperity Premiership

Image courtesy: AGRFU