Action from the rugby clash between Doha 1st XV and Bahrain played at the Doha Rugby Football Centre recently.

Doha 1st XV are off to a flying start to the season, racking up wins as they prepare to face Kuwait this Friday. Following Doha’s key bonus point win away last week in Bahrain, the third league match of the season saw Bahrain return to Doha Rugby Football Centre determined to avenge their loss. This was foiled at the onset of the match as 1st XV were fully determined to protect their turf.

Mark O’Donnell set the scene in the first minute by taking an early try, successfully converted by Greg Evans.

His back-row partner Jamie Clarke burst through and crossed the line five minutes later, again converted by Greg Evans.

New second rower, Sri Lankan Dinesh Sanjeeva, spotted a gap on the Bahrain defensive line and took a try with a quick pick 10 minutes in. Bahrain then kicked a penalty to get their score board moving, 19-03.

Doha’s rain of tries continued when injury returnee Jonathan Davies secured more early bonus point for Doha in the 19th minute and opened the flood gates.

Tim Newnham on the other wing scored the first of his three tries at 27 minutes. Not to be outdone, Jonathan Davies secured the glory of his first match back for the Mens XVs and scored a second try only 4 minutes later.

Welsh wonder Greg Evans decided he would get a bit of the action scoring a try at 34 minutes which he duly converted. The first half ended with Bahrain making a rare foray into the Doha 22 resulting in an unconverted try just before half time, score at the break 41-08.

The second half started with Coach Aaron Palmer deciding to replace the entire front row with fresh legs and it paid off as an early second half try from New Zealand youngster Aaron McLelland was converted by his partner in crime Greg Evans.

Tim went on to storm his way to a hat-trick with two further tries in quick succession, one of which was again converted by Greg Evans.

Strong, direct running saw Doha stalwart and captain Liam Frost score next, followed contrastingly by a typically jinking run by Aaron McLelland for his second of the game. 

Both successfully converted by Greg Evans all before the end of the 55th minute.

With Doha dominating the scoreboard with a 74-08 lead, Bahrain soldiered on but were a spent force as two tries came in the next five minutes from Greg Evans and Liam Frost taking us into the 60th minute of the game with a conversion added by Aaron McLelland.

He picked-up his hat-trick try which he converted by himself in the 64th minute.

Ryan Maidment took Doha pass the 100 point margin with a try in the 72nd minute, which was converted by Aaron McLelland.

A final not-so-consoling try went to Bahrain in the last play of the match. After the dominating match, Coach Aaron Palmer said:  “This was one of the most resounding wins ever seen at Doha RFC. Bahrain is a very strong, proud and formidable team, but the way the Doha boys played the support and offloading game was a great sight to behold”. Up next, “We now face the task of backing that up against Kuwait in Kuwait this weekend.”

 

 

 

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