RUGBY – Bahrain’s First XV blanked their counterparts from Doha in a crushing 76-0 victory last night in their 2026-27 Men’s West Asia Premiership clash played at Bahrain Rugby Club (BRC) in Saar.
The kingdom’s top-tier rugby squad were in a class of their own from kick-off as they drove in a sensational 12 tries – six apiece on either side of the break – from nine different players, led by Jack Hocking, Danny Silivelio, and Salesi Tuifua, who each had a brace.
Also contributing tries were AJ Kearns, Gregor Smith, Ruben Cronje, Jack Phillips, Joel Kidgell, and Nick Young; while skipper Cormac Fox and Josh Petro both registered multiple conversions.
The hosts were comfortably ahead 40-0 by half-time and cruised over the latter 40 minutes en route to sealing the massive result and an incredible clean sheet in the process.
The outcome earned the Bahrain First XV their second successive triumph after also winning by a big margin last weekend against the Dubai Dragons First XV in their previous assignment held in the UAE.
That earned them their first win in their title-defence this campaign after narrowly going down to the Dubai Tuskers First XV at home in their opening fixture.
Bahrain’s First XC rode their momentum into yesterday’s contest and did not disappoint the large crowd of home fans that flocked to BRC.
The kingdom’s representatives got off to a strong start when Hocking scored just three minutes in, which was followed by a brilliant nudge by Fox from an acute angle.
Hocking scored again nine minutes later before SIlivelio contributed his first try in the 17th minute rushing under the posts, with Fox coolly adding two bonus points right after for a 19-0 advantage.
Kearns then got his name on the scoreboard three minutes on and Fox had another successful conversion, then SIlivelio contributed his second try with Fox on target yet again.
Smith completed their first-half onslaught with his try four minutes from the break, and Fox kicked straight through the uprights for the fifth time, building their commanding 40-0 cushion at the interval.
Bahrain’s First XV didn’t let up in the second half. Cronje extended their lead eight minutes after the re-start and then Phillips and Tuifua contributed back-to-back tries, although Hocking was unsuccessful with his three consecutive kick attempts, stepping in for Fox.
Kidgell later walked the ball past the line in the 65th minute to make it 60-0, and then Petro fired in his first of three conversions after taking over the kicking duties.
Tuifua then secured his brace and Young scored on the very last play of the match – with Petro adding two points each time – to close out the incredible result for the hosts.
Action in the Men’s West Asia Premiership continues until the completion of the preliminary round in April of 2027, after which the kingdom’s representatives will be hoping to have booked their place in their semi-finals. The final is then slated for May next year.
Bahrain’s First XV were crowned champions of the 2025-26 Men’s West Asia Premiership after the season was cut short due to the unfortunate events in the region.
They were headed into the last four as number one seeds, having won all 12 of their games in the preliminaries.
They thus secured the crown with an undefeated campaign, regaining the title they last won in 2022-23.
Meanwhile, also at BRC yesterday, Bahrain’s Golden Oldies lost to the Doha Vets 10-40 in a friendly game played as part of the evening’s programme.
patrick@gdnmedia.bh
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