Qatar dig in deep to beat Thailand, qualify for final

Qatar rugby players in action against Thailand yesterday in the Asian5Nations tournament at Al Arabi stadium yesterday. Pictures: Mamdouh ElbhariyBy Mikhil Bhat/DohaQatar’s impressive run in Asian rugby continued as the national team made it to their third consecutive Asian5Nations final at Al Arabi Stadium here yesterday.Qatar had won the Division IV and Division III finals in consecutive years to make it to Division II along with Malaysia, Thailand and Iran.Yesterday, Qatar overcame a physical encounter against Thailand 24-11 to make it to Friday’s final against Malaysia.While Paul Beard impressed with his accuracy scoring four penalties and a conversion, it was player cum coach Aaron Palmer who got the scoreboard ticking with a try in the 18th minute.Flyhalf Beard slotted an easy penalty six minutes later before Thai centre Khomchak Chakrabandhu’s 28th minute try brought the scores to 5-8.Even as Qatar went into the break with a 11-5 lead, thanks to Beard’s second penalty, the second half was a test.Thailand’s Warongkorn Khamkoet scored two penalties to level the scores at 11-11.Beard replied with a penalty before captain Liam Frost took advantage of a rogue ball that the Thai defence couldn’t hold on to and scored the host side’s second try. After duly converting the try, Beard scored his fourth and final penalty eight minutes from time.“I think it was a lot harder than we expected it to be. They were fit, they were strong,” Frost said after the match.“They weren’t the biggest of sides but they were physical and they were fit. If we are honest, we are a bit of an aging side but we dug deep and credit to the guys. I think it is exactly what we wanted. We have set ourselves up well for the next game, final. And let’s hope we can push on for that.”Qatar have never played Malaysia and Frost said they were looking forward to the final. “If I am honest, we are probably at the right sort of level now. And now we have got some really good guys playing here now,” Frost said. “We saw them [Malaysia] play for a half and they look like a very strong side. We will have to do a bit of homework and dig deep. You anything can happen, it is a final.”For Malaysia, there is a lot at stake in the fresh round of Division II. The team missed out on the Division I spot twice in the last two seasons, having lost the Division II finals to Thailand and Singapore in 2012 and 2013 respectively.Despite a team that has 14 players who received their first national call-up, yesterday, Malaysians looked in charge against Iran, winning the game 43-22.The Malaysians run amok at the Al Arabi Stadium and completely owned the first half with the first try coming in the fifth minute through winger Azmir Zanul Abidin. With Malaysia scoring three more tries thanks to Faat Hur Rozi, Atunaisa Lacadamu Takubu and Villiame Veto Tuiniv, and the corresponding conversions through flanker Syarif Saiful, the 2009 Division II winners went into the break with a huge advantage at 26-7.After Saiful scored a penalty two minutes after the break, the second half brought a few cheers for Iran with Hamid-Reza Zareghlag scoring two tries.With 12 points to go, however, Iran lost all hopes of a win with Wan Izzudin Ismail and Abidin running through their defence for two more tries and Saiful continuing with his consistent and accurate conversions.In the dying moments of the game, Iranian flanker Moein Sarkari pulled a try back but by then the Malaysians were already celebrating.The third-place playoff between Iran and Thailand will be played at 5:30pm on Friday, followed by the Division II final between hosts Qatar and Malaysia at 7:30pm.