Daniel Perry has described the mood in the UAE camp as “broken” after they suffered a third straight defeat to finish rock-bottom of Division I in the 2017 Asia Rugby Championship.
The electricity of the Philippines backs was again a concern for Apollo Perelini’s men in Ipoh yesterday, who had fought back from 23-13 at one stage and led 26-23 with 11 minutes to go before a late killer blow was struck by their opponents for the third game running.
The silver lining for their current mood is that in the aftermath of defeat, it emerged that finishing bottom of Division I will not see the UAE relegated back to Division II.
With Asian heavyweights Japan already qualified for the 2019 Rugby World Cup as hosts, they will not feature in next year’s top three Asia Rugby Championship, which Malaysia earned promotion to via victory over Sri Lanka yesterday.
Asia Rugby competitions manager Aaron Stockdale confirmed Division I will remain a four-team league, therefore the winner of Division II, to be played in November, will join Sri Lanka, the Philippines and the UAE in 2018.
Unaware of this news immediately after the game, vice captain Perry was in somber mood.
Lindsay Fitzgerald.
“The lads are disappointed, really disappointed. They’re broken,” said the Dubai Hurricanes lock.
“We made it hard for ourselves with individual errors, but you cannot fault the individual effort at all. We played well in patches. Injuries and suspensions have played their part but there’s no finger pointing.
“With the climate and the teams we’re up against, we really dug in and had a go. We just weren’t good enough over three games. We’re gutted to be coming back with nothing.
“It’s a good group of lads, there’s a few leaving, but hopefully we can stick together and go again next year. We’re a tight group. We’ve got rid of the four or five different clubs we play for. We’re one whole squad.
“We’ll take it on the chin and regroup and go again next year. The lads have earned a well-deserved summer off.”
The UAE were once again on the back foot early on, conceding a try inside the opening minute when winger Justin Coveney seized on a loose ball and kicked clear to touch down.
Perelini’s charges responded well and a trademark rolling maul saw Perry’s fellow second rower Ed Talbot touch down 10 minutes later, with Abu Dhabi Harlequins teammate Luke Stevenson’s conversion edging the UAE ahead 7-5.
Stevenson enjoyed a flawless day with the boot, putting behind him an error-strewn performance against Sri Lanka with a 16-point haul.
He added a first half penalty but the UAE trailed 15-10 at the break as the Volcanoes scored two more excellent tries. Winger Kevin Gordon gathered a Stevenson clearance and fed centre Ned Stephenson who passed inside to the supporting Gordon at the line to see the Philippines retake the lead.
It’s been a campaign littered with errors for the UAE and despite excellent running from winger Ryno Fourie, back after being suspended for the Sri Lanka game, several opportunities were spurned.
Stevenson drew them level at 10-10 but their errant handling was punished deep into first half stoppage time when, after oddly deciding to go for two scrums, fine work from Gordon down the right wing saw him gather his own grubbed and out full-back Patrice Olivier, who started the move, over.
Stevenson and Gordon traded penalties after the break before the Philippines threatened to run away with the game following a fourth, bonus point try.
Gordon showed lightening pace to get away down the left and when the last tackle came he had Coveney on his shoulder, the winger going in for his fourth score of the tournament.
A brilliant response from the UAE showed they were far from done. Full-back Scott Hayes threatened to knock on as he juggled the ball in midfield before gathering and setting Andy Powell racing away. He released Fourie who brilliantly stepped Gordon to drag the UAE back into it – and they even went three points ahead when Stevenson slotted two penalties.
Gordon’s penalty soon leveled the game at 26-26 and it was hardly a surprise when a body blow was landed inside the final 10 minutes. Substitute Timothy Bweheni bulldozed his way into UAE territory and Ricky Kucia made further inroads.
The Volcanoes were flowing forward and when the ball was spun wide, Olivier had the strength to go over despite the best efforts of Hayes and Stevenson to give the Philippines a five point lead.
There was still all to play for but the Philippines were in control in UAE territory and as they inched closer to the line, the ball was spun back for Jake Letts whose drop goaled sealed victory for his side and bookended the UAE’s misery.
