BAHRAIN RFC XV got back to winning ways in the West Asia Premiership yesterday as they conjured up a commanding 66-0 victory over Abu Dhabi Saracens in Saar.
With the kick-off delayed for over an hour due to the late arrival of the match referee from Dubai, the two sides could have been forgiven for a slow start but instead they produced a hard-fought opening quarter.
After a succession of penalties, Bahrain’s pressure eventually told when Rob Bennett rolled over for the opening try and Luke Radley duly added the extras in impressive style.
Disallowed
After a disallowed try for Rhys Fitzgerald, Iwan Phillips was the one to notch Bahrain’s second try of the evening and Radley’s conversion made it 14-0.
Fitzgerald did get himself on the scoresheet soon after and when Radley himself touched down in the corner on the stroke of half-time, it gave the hosts the much needed bonus point much to the delight of a boisterous home crowd.
Bahrain picked up from where they left off at the start of the second-half as first Elliot Behan and then Mark Burnell - on his return from the sin-bin - powered over to essentially put the game out of reach.
Phillips then danced through for his second and one of the highlights of the evening and Behan’s second a couple of moments later brought up the half-century.
Substitute Joel Lewis then got in on the act as he crossed for another well-worked score and Fitzgerald joined Phillips and Behan in completing a brace as he rounded off a fine move under the posts.
Radley’s conversion completed the scoring for the evening and Bahrain can now look forward to welcoming Exiles to Saar in two weeks for what promises to be a huge game for both sides.