Doha: The Hurricanes had a night of a mixed emotions losing to the top seeded team before holding their own against the Camels 2 on Saturday night at the Aspire warm up and purpose built rugby track.
In the opening match the Hurricanes were out classed by the undefeated Camels 1 losing 70 – nil. The Camels 1 ran in ten unanswered converted tries to nil.
However, the Hurricanes bounced back in their second match against Camels 2 when they started with strong field position scoring eight tries (8) to one (1).
Lead by Captain Issac Banks the Hurricanes posted first points and never looked back.
Banks was instrumental throughout the entire match scoring two tries one which was in spectacular diving fashion. He could have added another when he came within a whisker before being pulled down short of the line.
Banks and his Hurricanes starved the opposition of ball possession and capitalised on every lose ball. He worked tirelessly all night chasing high kicks and defending well. His sterling performance won him the man of the match.
Banks had a helping hand from youngster and Qatar national rugby sevens debutant Samuel Higgs who also bagged two tries. The 18 year old played a fundamental supporting role and displayed skills beyond his years.
The Camels 2 only try came from powerhouse Rakan Mutawaa. Mutawas rarely saw the ball but when he got it he showed his teammates what to do with it. He walked over his would be defenders and raced 50 meters to score a great solo try. Final score Hurricanes 46 Camels (2) 7.
Speaking about both matches Hurricanes, Banks said “Camels 1 are just a class apart, we are amateurs playing professionals. We dismissed that performance after the game was finished, and concentrated solely on the Camels 2 game.”
An upbeat Banks continued “To take apart a much vaunted Camels 2 team, featuring many national players in the aggressive fashion that we did really shows our never-say-die attitude.”
Banks played tribute to his young guns saying “Tom Ayling and Sam Higgs, coming back from Qatar National Sevens duty, they have shown that they relished the National environment, and their play was very polished after international experience”.
In the other played match Camels 1 blocked out the College of North Atlantic 57 nil.
Speaking to the media after the matches QRF General Secretary Al Al Malki said: “We have reached the half way mark of our sevens rugby season. It’s hard to believe it has gone so quick. It is a tremendous feeling to see player’s progress week in week out.” The Peninsula
