Dubai Tigers reinforced their West Asia Premiership title credentials by beating Abu Dhabi Harlequins at Zayed Sports City on Saturday night.
Top-tier rugby’s youngest club have now defeated the two finalists from last season’s competition in their past two outings.
Having shocked Dubai Exiles at the Sevens two weeks earlier, the Tigers took the scalp of the defending UAE Premiership champions in the capital.
The Tigers scored seven tries as they beat Harlequins 46-15, stretching their unbeaten start to the campaign to three matches.
Bahrain maintained their formidable return to competition with a 34-10 win at home against Jebel Ali Dragons.
Travel restrictions related to Covid meant Bahrain were precluded from competition for two and a half years before the start of this season.
The side from Saar have barely missed a beat on their comeback, though. The win over the Dragons was their third of the season. They sit one point behind Tigers in second in the table.
Tearful appearance
Chancellor Rachel Reeves set markets on edge as she appeared visibly distraught in parliament on Wednesday.
Legislative setbacks for the government have blown a new hole in the budgetary calculations at a time when the deficit is stubbornly large and the economy is struggling to grow.
She appeared with Keir Starmer on Thursday and the pair embraced, but he had failed to give her his backing as she cried a day earlier.
A spokesman said her upset demeanour was due to a personal matter.
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Results
ATP Dubai Championships on Monday (x indicates seed):
First round
Roger Federer (SUI x2) bt Philipp Kohlschreiber (GER) 6-4, 3-6, 6-1
Fernando Verdasco (ESP) bt Thomas Fabbiano (ITA) 3-6, 6-3, 6-2
Marton Fucsovics (HUN) bt Damir Dzumhur (BIH) 6-1, 7-6 (7/5)
Nikoloz Basilashvili (GEO) bt Karen Khachanov (RUS x4) 6-4, 6-1
Jan-Lennard Struff (GER) bt Milos Raonic (CAN x7) 6-4, 5-7, 6-4
