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Bahrain Rugby Football Club’s (BRFC) first XV will take on Jebel Ali Dragons this weekend in the final competitive home fixture of the 2012/2013 season.
While Bahrain’s chances of making this month’s West Asia Cup Final suffered a blow with an injury-ravaged defeat in Doha over the weekend, this week’s game offers the team the perfect opportunity to finish the season on a high in front of their loyal fans.
Up until losing to runaway league leaders Abu Dhabi Harlequins two weeks ago, Bahrain had been on a run of home victories stretching back to March 2012.
Central to that run, which included wins over Muscat, Kuwait, Doha, Dubai Hurricanes and Dubai Exiles, was the input of the Bahrain home support, recently voted ‘Best in the Gulf’.
“Definitely one of the highlights of the season overall has been the performances of the Bahrain supporters,” explained first XV team manager Tom Hanratty.
“They’ve been instrumental in some of the big victories we’ve had over the last few months and we certainly want to repay their faith with another win this weekend.
“Friday’s loss was particularly hard to take because we felt Doha were there for the taking and we just let the opportunity slip away.”
Despite going behind to an early Doha penalty on Friday, Bahrain took the lead with the first try of the game when scrum-half Rich Ryan sniped through and fed skipper Rich Wilkinson to touch down.
The home side responded immediately as they scored from the re-start and with the conversion added, they edged ahead by 8-7 and held on for the half-time break.
Bahrain continued where they left off but their efforts were undone when Doha picked off an intercept try to extend their lead.
Bahrain’s season has been notable for injuries suffered by key players and, on Friday, hooker Arron Dalgarno and flanker Ollie Hunt were both stretchered off to join prop Rich Muncaster, who retired injured in the first half, on the sidelines.
Skipper Wilkinson was next to go when he suffered a torn hamstring and he was followed by Ryan.
