By Peter Townson/Doha

Action from the Doha and Dubai Hurricanes rugby match. Doha recorded their third home victory in as many matches last weekend, when they beat top of the table Dubai Hurricanes by 32-26 to move within five points of the visitors with a game in hand
Doha recorded their third home victory in as many matches last weekend, when they beat top of the table Dubai Hurricanes by 32-26 to move within five points of the visitors with a game in hand.
Rising to the occasion of their biggest match so far, Doha got off to a fine start when Colm Coyle kicked through with barely five minutes on the clock, forcing the Hurricanes full back to clear his lines.
From the resulting lineout, Doha secured the ball before Paul Beard delivered a pinpoint cross-field kick into the arms of winger Jaco de Jager who scored the first try of the match - 5-0 to Doha.
Hurricanes hit back almost immediately, scoring two penalties to make the score 5-6.
Hurricanes pressure led to a converted try and another penalty gave the visitors 3 more points, taking the score to 16-5 in their favour as the match approached the halftime stage. 
Beard managed to slot a drop goal to reduce the deficit to 8, before some good work at the lineout and slick handling saw winger Ian O’Connor race over for a try.  Beard was unable to add the conversion and so the teams went off at half time with the visitors leading 16-13.
Doha made a number of changes at half time, and the different personnel made an immediate impact.
Another good lineout win saw the ball reach Scott Murray, who managed to score an excellent try after some fancy footwork. Substitute Liam Geraghty converted the try and Doha had restored the lead at 20-16.
Murray added another soon after, following another good clearance from Coyle and some poor kicking from the Hurricanes; 25-16.
Hurricanes added another 3 points following another penalty, but it was Doha who got the next try through the ever-present Liam Frost – the team’s top try-scorer this season.
Geraghty added 2 points from the tee and Doha were leading 32-19.
The home side continued to attack, but Hurricanes were in search of a bonus point, and managed to score a try from a lineout in Doha’s 22, and following an excellent kick, were within seven points of Doha.
The action continued until the final whistle, but as the referee signalled the end of a close match, it was Doha who emerged victorious from their hardest home match of the season.
After the match, coach Palmer commented: “To score 5 tries against a very good side was magnificent from our point of view - the team played a lot better in the second half after trailing at half time and showed a lot of composure under pressure.”
“We are now 5 points off the lead with a game in hand so the race to the title is going to be a very interesting and close fought one,” he added.
Doha’s next match will see them on the road when they take on Dubai Exiles away tomorrow.
Cap – Doha in action during their victory against top of the table Dubai Hurricanes at the weekend.