Dubai Hurricanes in Arabian Gulf Cup semis

30 January 2006

DUBAI — Dubai Hurricanes defeated Abu Dhabi for the second time in two weeks to reach the last four of the Standard Chartered Arabian Gulf Cup.

Chris Gregory’s side followed up a 46-17 Gulf League win over the Bats with a 47-23 victory with try scorers including Graham Brown, James Tometzki, Jason Knox, Ben Charlton, Aaron Brown and Paul Al Selmo.

Gregory said: “We were very pleased, we’re playing well at the moment and there is good competition for places in the squad.”

Also through to the semi-finals are holders Dubai Exiles who won 16pts-8 victory away to Doha.

Centre Jason Cook claimed the visitors’ only try, polishing off a break by stand-in skipper Mark Gathercole playing at No 8.

Luke Sinclair added the conversion and three penalties to wrap up the scoring for the visitors. The Hurricanes and the Exiles now go into the draw for the semi-finals along with Dubai Dragons, victors over Dubai Exiles IIs, and Dubai Dragons IIs who won 23-14 away in Bahrain earlier this month.

Dubai Dragons cruised to a 69-14 Gulf League success in Bahrain with winger Amir Mohamed claiming four tries.

Jamie Turner crossed twice from centre, while Adrian Kerr, Vivian Albertyn, Mark Fisher, James Wellings and Mike Lunjevich also got on the scoring sheet.