The impressive score only reflects the outcome of the match as Jeddah had to work very hard to overcome the Tigers’ determined and physical defense and at times penetrating runs stopped just meters from the line.

Jeddah coaches Christopher Thorsen and Abood Khumayes had hoped for an impressive start to the season; they got one.

Just over two minutes from kickoff Jeddah’s captain Matt Jay showed what he wanted by retrieving a lofted ball from Taif and with a characteristically strong jinking run he left Taif defense in a disorganized melee and crossed the line for the first, though unconverted, try of the game.

The Tigers gathered their wits and hammered away at the Jeddah defense in a workmanlike way and demonstrated their potential by keeping play in the Jeddah half for the next 10 minutes. They delivered a scare when they were very close the line and stopped from scoring by a suicide tackle that let the ball go free to be touched down for a 22-meter drop out to Jeddah that was badly fumbled.

The Tigers pounced and this time it was Jeddah’s disorder that Taif capitalized on when Bradley Shine went over the line for an unconverted try in the 13th minute. Clearly happy with the balance restored, Taif settled down to attack again but was caught off guard when one minute after the re-start, Jeddah’s Ray Garnett flickered through their line to score an easily converted try.

After the first break in the Saudi style “three-half” match, Jeddah, or at least the eventual man-of-the-match wing Sou Miyake, was completely revivified. If it were possible for a man to be in two places at once it is he; his ability to be where the ball is and the gaps in the defense are simultaneously is only explicable by quantum physics. This handy skill saw him drop through wormholes in Taif’s defense to their surprise and that of the enthusiastic crowd twice in two and a half minutes for a couple of lovely converted tries.

Bryce Lund at scrum half added insult to injury moments later with a converted try of his own.

Taif once again came back at Jeddah in force. The game became increasingly physical with Taif showing an advantage in stamina in the second period that saw several heavy knocks on each side. That said, such was the spirit of both sides in the game and the steady hand of referee Wayne Stewart that more often than not the parties involved shake hands before resuming the delivery of mayhem. The third period under way, it was time for the Jeddah’s substantial contingent of players to wave the flag. The impressive figure of Waleed “Gearbox” Hawsawi, whose massive presence in the rucks had contributed greatly to Jeddah’s possession of the ball during the match, burst out of a loose maul and with the deliberate acceleration of a train headed for the Tiger’s line. Taif had nothing available to stop Hawsawi’s run and his effort was rewarded by the conversion of his well-deserved try.

Demonstrating that sprinting and an uncanny ability to change direction completely at full speed Ali Barnawi followed the footsteps of Hawsawi a few minutes later with another try.

Taif was not, however, done. A good kick ahead and a rapid follow-up by the forward working in close concert muscled the ball over Jeddah’s line to the appreciation of the crowd.

Six minutes from time, Dave Kinkead, fed a bullet pass from Myake, followed Hawsawi’s example and crossed the line for a converted try.

Nailing the coffin lid tight shut in the last minute of the encounter Jay completed his game, having opened Jeddah’s account, by scoring and converting the last try.

Jeddah – eight tries and 6 conversions – 58. Taif two tries, no conversions - 10