RUGBY – Bahrain’s Second XV rugby team edged past the Al Ain Amblers First XV 20-12 in 2025-26 Men’s UAE Division One action.
The kingdom’s representatives needed to battle back from an early deficit to come away with their fifth successive victory of the season, boosting their hopes of punching their ticket to the semi-finals.
Tries from Joseph Rizzardi, skipper Martin Prinsloo, and Jayden Summers helped lift the home team at Bahrain Rugby Club (BRC) in Saar.
Joel Lewis added a conversion and a game-ending penalty kick to seal the win.
Bahrain’s Second XV conceded the game’s first try and conversion to fall behind 0-7, but in the 17th minute, Stan Mortenson fed Rizzardi to put the hosts on the board, although they could not add the two bonus points.
Prinsloo then gave them the advantage in the 22nd minute with his try that made it 10-7, but Lewis was just wide with his ensuing nudge.
Summers later bullied his way through the Amblers’s defence and drove the ball past the try line seven minutes later, extending the Second XV’s lead to 15-7.
Lewis was this time successful with his conversion, putting Bahrain up 17-7, which they took with them into the break.
After the re-start, both sides only scored one more time.
The Amblers got another try a little past the second-half’s midway point to reduce their gap, and then the score remained unchanged until the closing moments.
That was when Bahrain were given a penalty, which Lewis sent through the posts with the final kick of the night.
Following their fifth win in six tries, Bahrain’s Second XV rose to fourth overall amongst the 10 teams on the table.
They are back in action on Saturday next week at BRC when they take on the so-far-unbeaten, Dubai-based Uuds Tuskers First XV, who are currently in second place on the Men’s UAE Division One standings.
It will be their penultimate fixture of this season’s preliminary round, which will be followed by the last four and title-deciding game, slated for April.
patrick@gdnmedia.bh
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