Abu Dhabi Harlequins get their year started off on right track

Jeremy Manning, the Abu Dhabi Harlequins player-coach, says his side are eager to make amends for missing out on the UAE Premiership final, and the touring team certainly look to be making up for lost time with a 21-7 win at Qatar.

Jeremy Manning is a player and coach for the Abu Dhabi Harlequins, who are riding a two-game winning streak. Christopher Pike / The National
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Jeremy Manning, the Abu Dhabi Harlequins player-coach, says his side are eager to make amends for missing out on the UAE Premiership final before Christmas, after they won in Doha on Friday.

Two more tries by the prolific Chris Marshall, plus 11 points from the boot of Luke Stevenson gave the touring side a 21-7 win in Qatar.

The victory was their second in successive weeks against potential Gulf Top Six title rivals, having trounced Jebel Ali Dragons at home seven days previously.

They lead the league table after two weeks of the cross-border competition.

Having played in – and lost – three finals last season, Quins are keen to return to the winner’s podium again.

“The boys seem to be knuckling down and are keen to make amends for the first half of our season,” Manning said.

“When we played the UAE Premiership we were a bit off the mark in terms of knowing where we should be playing from and where we shouldn’t.

“We have played to a gameplan that has worked for us the past two weeks, but that doesn’t necessarily mean we will play that same way against every team we face.”

Quins are not the only side with rights to wrong from the end of 2013.

After pipping the capital side to a place in the domestic final, Dubai Hurricanes were soundly beaten by the Dragons when they got there.

They were back at their best yesterday, though, after registering a 43-0 win on the road at Abu Dhabi Saracens.

“I think the UAE Premiership final caught us napping a bit,” said Guy Potter, the Hurricanes captain.

“It was a healthy reminder that you’ve got to bring your A game if you want to get a result.

“We had a good performance in defence [against Saracens], we capitalised on their mistakes and forced turnovers which brought us points.

“It was a bit scrappy in places but we were more composed in our gameplay which was good to see.”

The defending West Asia champions, the Dragons, also returned to winning ways when they won 34-13 in Bahrain.

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