Bahrain Rugby Football Club’s (RFC) first XV made hard work of things in the first-half of yesterday’s Rugby West Asia Championship clash against the lowly Muscat but eventually scored a comfortable 50-10 victory in Saar.
Last week’s defeat away to Doha put paid to Bahrain’s hopes of challenging for the overall league title but a big home crowd turned out expecting a big performance against a visiting side who had been outplayed in the Gulf Premiership clash between the sides at the same venue back in October.
The visitors however, with Bahrain RFC products Tom and Joe Herbert in the starting line-up, started brightly and dominated the territory stakes for the opening minutes without being able to break through.
After Bahrain withstood that initial onslaught, Alastair Crombie touched down for the opening score – converted by Luke Radley – and many onlookers expected a cake-walk from there on. That was far from the case however, with several forays by the hosts breaking down at key stages.
Indeed, Muscat closed the gap to 7-3 before Arron Dalgarno scored Bahrain’s second try after a beautiful pass from Rich Wilkinson. Radley was on top form with the boot and he made it 21-3 at half-time after converting Henry Frost’s score in the corner in an improved second quarter.
Fly-half Oli Luke’s try secured the bonus point within minutes of the restart but Muscat responded with a well-deserved try of their own soon after.
The fresh legs from the Bahrain bench ensured a difficult final quarter for the Muscat boys as first Terrence Tantoh and then the returning Tom Jankowski touched down to end the game as a contest.
There was still time for Tantoh to grab his second and then Radley went over to bring up the half-century and put a gloss on the scoreline.