Our final roundup of 2018 as we find out who will be heading in to Christmas top of the tree in the Premiership and the Conference leagues
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Team of the Week – Dubai Tigers 1s
A routine victory for the Tigers over an Arabian Knights outfit that are still looking for their first win this season would not normally attract our attention. But in defeating the Knights in the final round of games to be played in 2018, Tigers 1s have achieved the rare distinction of going a whole calendar year unbeaten. Their run stretches back to last season’s Conference title winning side and this form has carried across into this season as they sit comfortably top of their Conference Pool with 7 wins out of 7. The closest they have come to defeat was back in the Conference final with Sharjah Wanderers, which finished as a draw in normal time before Tigers snatched it in sudden death. A minor blemish on what is a significant milestone achievement.
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West Asia Premiership
The weekend’s big clash came at The Sevens with an immediate rematch of the Dubai 7s final between Dubai Hurricanes and Abu Dhabi Harlequins. This time it was the away side who gained revenge for their 7s loss with a bonus point 43-21 win. That keeps Quins hot on the tails of Bahrain who dispatched Jebel Ali Dragons and go into the new year with a four point lead at the top. Dubai Exiles ran out victors at the end of a thriller over DSC Eagles, with their city rivals leading 20-12 at halftime and almost snatching the victory in the last play of the game with a try in the corner only for a foot in touch leaving them with the consolation of a credible losing bonus point and a final score of 23-29.
The title race at the top now looking clear as a 14 point gap having opened up between third place Exiles and Quins in second spot, all signs point towards January 18th’s crunch fixture at Zayed Sports City between Harlequins and Bahrain acting as this year’s title decider.
Conference
With Tigers running away with the lead in their pool, Abu Dhabi Saracens kept themselves in touch with Al Ain Amblers in the battle for the second qualification spot thanks to a decisive 57-10 away win over Dubai Sharks. Hurricanes 2s will be the happiest of the sides in the other pool, as they leapfrog Dragons 2s courtesy of a 20-7 triumph at home to Quins 2s. Both Dragons and Hurricanes have opened up a cushion in the top two places with Quins slipping away and Exiles 2s earning only their second win of the season over fellow back marker Eagles 2s.
Article by: Huw Harrow
