BAHRAIN Rugby Football Club Bahrain Duty Free 1st XV suffered a narrow 11-13 defeat at home to Doha in the latest round of the Gulf Top Six Premiership Series.
Bahrain started the game in a determined fashion and had the first points on the board through a penalty from scrum-half Tom Hanratty.
Doha, currently battling for top spot in the league standings, replied swiftly though, through a penalty of their own and then powered their way into the lead with a try from Rich Liddington.
The referee offered Hanratty a second penalty chance and he duly converted to leave the score at 6-8 at the half-time break.
Bahrain kicked off the second-half in style and their endeavour was rewarded when veteran prop Sal Wilson, who had earlier replaced the injured Tim Knott, powered over for a superbly-taken try.
Hanratty this time was wide with the conversion attempt but Bahrain now had a lead of 11-8. The game was finely poised heading into the final 10 minutes but, as in the first-half, Doha then struck for a crucial try against the run of play, through the pack.