The podium winning teams at the Qatar Olympic Committee’s Winter Camp Multi Games Touch Rugby competition pose for a picture.
The Hurricanes drove a resolute and clinical pattern of play on the hot sand of Sealine Beach as they beat the Blue Falcons 2-0 to clinch Qatar Olympic Committee’s Winter Camp Multi Games Touch Rugby title in front of a packed out crowd.
Both teams traded possession before Hurricanes Sashi Kanth broke the defense line through a step and remarkable diving pass giving winger Raushan Razik a spectacular first try.
A few minutes later, Shivan Paithrage cleverly sped from dummy half connecting out wide with Sajith Ariyawansa who planted the team’s second try in the corner just before half time.
The second half provided a different outcome for the Hurricanes who were hit by an attacking Blue Falcons whirlwind. The agility and speed of the younger French players helped them to maintain momentum, moving upstream and pressurising their undefeated opponents.
A barrage of clever plays by the Falcon veterans kept the Hurricanes scoreless, not even a late bundle of penalties could help them cross over the line after the break. The French squad with an average age of 17 dominated territory and possession for much of the second half but were unable to turn that into points.
Speaking after the match Hurricanes President Hans Thomasz said, “It’s a great day for the Hurricanes Storms we managed two out of three. It’s an unbelievable feeling to be on top once again”.
“Both our teams unselfishly played for each other and they are deserved winners. We sincerely appreciate the French boys who always drive us to final minute. They never gave up and always play in the true spirit of the game”.
Storms club manager, Mohamed Faiq, was exuberant at his teams win saying, “We are over the moon at our victory. We have been waiting a long time for a title win and finally we got one”.
“We started the day off with a couple of jitters and made some forced errors. But we calmed down in the end and kept it all together.” This was the final weekend for the QOC Multi Games Winter Camp Championships which started back in December 2018. It was a befitting closing sports day with seven (7) sports on display in one location; athletics, basketball, football, handball, hockey, touch and volleyball.
QOC officials who were in attendance are extremely satisfied with this year’s Winter Camp and hope to emulate it on a grander scale in the coming seasons.
