Friday May 2 2008 12:00PM Balamand
Balamand	16 (4) 34 (6)	LAU

What had been a muddy Bank of Beirut Rugby League Championship top-three picture just got a whole lot clearer, with Balamand knocked out of the race on Friday night barring a stupendous reversal of form. Balamand needs crumbling USJ to beat Jounieh on Saturday – a team they lost to 72-0 a week ago - and then must beat LAU themselves next week in their final match. The Immortals staved off a fourth successive defeat, something no LAU side has ever suffered, and re-claimed top spot from AUB, if only for 24 hours. Jounieh, who will draw level with LAU on 19-points if they win against USJ, has a better for-and-against.

But top spot next week – and automatic qualification for the 24^th May final – is most certainly a realistic prize for the Immortals. A quirk of the fixture list means that LAU close out their regular season on Friday at Balamand knowing that a win will see them guarantee first place with 21-points, ahead of both AUB and Jounieh who would then do battle in the semi-final.

What a roller-coaster this last few weeks has been. Balamand, who suffered horribly mid-season only to rediscover some form, are now all but gone. LAU, league leaders for so long, faced a club record losing streak and a calamitous fourth place but are now favorites to claim an automatic berth in the final. AUB, so inconsistent for so long, waited for their penultimate match to get a taste of first position, and are now many commentators’ form team. And Jounieh, the talent-filled Al-Galacticos, have had to manage an injury crisis and are still unable to field a settled seventeen.  

For LAU, certainly, the pressure has been massively relieved, and the manner of their win will fill them with renewed confidence even though the 18-point margin of victory in no way reflected the gripping nature of Friday night’s game. Having trailed early and then again on the hour mark LAU took the lead in the 64^th minute then scored three tries in the last ten to put a flattering look to the scoreboard. What was notable in the Immortals’ performance was the shared workload, with no individual standing out. The pack, so often spearheaded by Robin Hachache, was driven forward this time by all coach Remond Safi’s big men, with Nayef Abisaid, Ray Finan and Hanny Rifai all working overtime. The backs did their share of the work too, with the back three neatly countering Balamand lock Wael Tawil’s kicking game. But entering the final quarter it was the Razorbacks who looked to be in the box seat.

Up 16-10, after fullback Riad Khoury had beaten the ubiquitous Hachache to his own chip-and-chase, Balamand utility Firas El Mir made a deep incursion from a scrum inside LAU’s half. But instead of accepting the first tackle he threw a wild off-load which was returned by LAU custodian Allen Khoury. From the resulting possession Jad Hachem scored to make it 16-16. Deflated, Balamand conceded again seven minutes later and were unable to recover, conceding another try just four minutes later, LAU’s best of the bunch, with Hachache offloading to the supporting Karim Jamal, whose lofted inside ball found centre Mohamed Jamil angling back towards the sticks.

Mounib Ismael had given Balamand a 12^th minute lead before Ahmad Hammoud scored next to the posts on 27 minutes. Jamal’s deadly boot handed LAU a 6-4 lead at the interval. Both teams were held up in-goal in what had been a desperate first half, with Balamand centre Najy Bassil held up again in the second half, characterizing LAU’s desperation to defend their line. LAU scored first in the second period through George Rahal, then Khoury tied it up with a 57^th minute try before scoring again two minutes to give Balamand what looked like a commanding position.