RUGBY – BAHRAIN’S Second XV rugby team defeated the Dubai Tigers First XV 20-17 yesterday in their 2026-27 UAE Division One clash, played at Bahrain Rugby Club (BRC) in Saar.
Tries from Joel Lewis and Deina Morete, along with some precision kicking from Lewis and Dan Dryden, helped lift the hosts to the all-important victory, which was their second in three outings.
Lewis put the kingdom’s representatives on the board with a try in the 15th minute before adding a successful conversion kick to make it 7-0.
The Tigers then levelled the score but Dryden fired in the first of his two penalties in the game to put Bahrain’s Second XV back up 10-7 at the half-hour mark.
The visitors replied once more to tie the proceedings at 10-all, but Dryden delivered his second penalty kick for a slim 13-10 edge, which they took with them into the interval.
After the re-start, Morete drove in his try under the posts in the 60th minute and then Dryden added the two bonus points to double the Bahrainis’ advantage. The Tigers added to their output one last time in the last five minutes but the home team were able to hold on until the final whistle to seal the hard-earned result.
The triumph of Bahrain’s Second XV added to their previous win against the Dubai Dragons Second XV away, which followed an opening loss at home to the Dubai Tuskers Second XV.
Yesterday’s contest featured a ceremony prior to kick off held in honour of long-time BRC member Dave ‘Sedge’ Parker, during which BRC chairman John Docherty shared a few words in his memory.
Meanwhile, Bahrain’s First XV were also scheduled to take to the pitch yesterday at BRC against the Dubai Exiles First XV in a 2026-27 Men’s West Asia Premiership encounter, but it was cancelled as their opponents did not make the trip to the kingdom.
patrick@gdnmedia.bh
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