photo by Ian Lovell

Lebanon produced an outstanding second half performance to beat Wales 50-26 last night to extend their seven-year unbeaten run to 14 matches.

The Lebanese are now just 80 minutes away from a place in the 2008 Rugby League World Cup Finals in Australia and Wales, the semi-finalists in the last two World Cups, now fail to qualify for the 2008 showpiece after throwing away a 10-point lead at Widnes.

Wales’ defeat surely now signifies the end of Iestyn Harris’ international career. However the Bradford star failed to shine in his suspected swansong with fellow former skipper Damien Gibson and current holder of the armband Lee Briers being the two outstanding performers for the Dragons in a team performance to forget.

Lebanon, who were facing an injury crisis before the match, now have the tricky task of needing to beat Samoa at Featherstone Rovers next Wednesday. The Samoans beat USA 42-10 in the earlier kick-off to qualify for next week’s match.

Wales took just four minutes to score their first try. Lee Briers, passed fit to play just before the game, created the chance with an inch-perfect kick to Damien Gibson who dived in the corner.

After Wales won a penalty for a ball steal, Briers set up Andy Bracek who easily ran in under the posts. Harris converted to give Wales a 10-0 lead in as many minutes.

Lebanon almost got back into the game straight away. After winning a goal-line drop-out from kick-off, Frank Samia was close to the line on the final play of the set but was wrestled into touch by Anthony Blackwood and Iestyn Harris.

But they did get over the line on the 20-minute mark. Gareth Dean spilled the ball in the tackle just seconds after coming onto the pitch to replace the injured Jordan James and from the scrum, Frank Samia ran the ball home and Toufic Nicholas converted.

Wales restored the balance less than five minutes later. Briers again created the chance with a long pass to Luke Dyer who in turn slipped the ball to Gibson who dived over for his second try of the game and fifth in three matches. Harris converted.

The Dragons couldn’t get over the line again in the first half but it wasn’t for want of trying. Briers, playing like a demon, went for a cheeky drop-goal for good measure but it swept just centimetres past the upright, while Gibson was denied a first half hat-trick twice.

The first opportunity missed was due to receiving a forward pass from Dave Halley while he was beaten to a Briers grubber from the next set by Adham El-Zbaideh.

But against the run of play it was Lebanon who got a morale booster before the interval, Chris Salem selling a dummy and weaving his way through to the corner.

Wales took first blood in the second half. Andy Bracek’s offload fell into the hands of Ali Kourouche but when Wales regained the ball moments later, Briers set up Gibson for Wales’ first hat-trick since Lenny Woodard and Adam Hughes notched three apiece against Russia in 2003.

The Lebanese hit back straight away through Salem’s second try following excellent work from Jamie Clark and George Ndaira. Nicholas’ second goal put Lebanon just four points behind.

They almost levelled things from kick-off but Nicholas fumbled Ndaira’s pass as

they were close to the line. They wasted another chance moments later - Nicholas eased through the Welsh defence and passed to Danny Chiha but the substitute’s off-load was cleverly intercepted by Briers.

However they deservedly took the lead after Ndaira run 30 metres through a gap that shouldn’t have existed to ground under the sticks. Nicholas converted.

They extended their lead following more Welsh errors. Jamie Clark fed Ray Moujali who forced his way over. Nicholas’ kick gave Lebanon an eight-point lead.

And Lebanon sealed things on 61 minutes when the resourceful Ndaira set up Kourouche who was one of four players ready to exploit the gaps in the Welsh defence to go in under the sticks. 

Skipper Salem eased through the Welsh backline for his hat-trick seven minutes later, Anthony Blackwood’s try under the posts converted by Briers gave Wales a glimmer of hope but Chris Saab restored the balance in favour of Lebanon following yet another lapse in the Welsh defence straight from kick-off.

Saab’s break set up Adham El-Zbaideh with Nicholas converting both to bring up the 50 just before the final hooter to rub salt into the already sore Welsh wounds.

Lebanon team manager George Elias said: “The team picked themselves up off the ground tonight and showed a great deal of courage and commitment to go out there and win. Even though we were behind at half-time, we continued with the gameplan and we did well. The Lebanese fans are tribal supporters and they deserve this win. Tonight’s victory will give us the confidence to face Samoa next Wednesday.”

Wales
1. Dave Halley (Bradford Bulls)
2. Damien Gibson (Halifax)
3. Luke Dyer (Celtic Crusaders)
4. Adam Hughes (Oldham Roughyeds)
5. Anthony Blackwood (Celtic Crusaders)
6. Iestyn Harris (Bradford Bulls)
7. Lee Briers (Warrington Wolves)
8. Craig Kopczak (Bradford Bulls)
9. Ian Webster (Celtic Crusaders)
10. Jordan James (Celtic Crusaders)
11. Matt James (Bradford Bulls)
12. Rob Roberts (Oldham)
13. Phil Joseph (Halifax)

Subs
14. Sean Penkywicz (Halifax)
15. Mark Roberts (Halifax)
16. Gareth Dean (Celtic Crusaders)
17. Andy Bracek (Warrington Wolves)

Tries: Gibson (4, 24, 43), Bracek (9), Blackwood (72)
Goals: Harris 2/4, Briers 1/1

Tries: Samia (20), Salem (39, 46, 68), Ndaira (52), Moujalli (55), Kourouche (61), Saab (75), El-Zbaideh (79)
Goals: Nicholas 7/9

Scoring Sequence: 4-0, 10-0, 10-6, 16-6, 16-10, 20-10, 20-16, 20-22, 20-28, 20-34, 20-38, 26-38, 26-44, 26-50
Penalty Count: 10-7

Men of the Match: Wales – Briers, Lebanon - Ndaira

Half-time: 16-10
Referee: Thierry Alibert (France)
Attendance: 753

article by Ian Golden
9 November 2007