Saturday March 3rd, 2007 Bhamdoun
Liban Espoir	20 16	PRESIDENTS

The representative season got off to an exciting start as Liban Espoir barely staved off an eager and talented President's XIII in Bhamdoun. The incumbent Lebanese-based rep side had to come from behind twice before finally seeing off the inaugural President's selection 20-16 in a match full of cut and thrust. The latter were driven on through sensational performances from former Espoir tourists Bassel Rehayem and Rany Chahoud and produced some exciting, off-the-cuff football which will make selection of the 2007 Espoir squad that much tougher.

The President's XIII got off to a nervous start, failing to gather the kick-off and dropping out from their line. This inability to deal with kicks would ultimately prove decisive. Some strong tackling in the middle and a dubious forward pass call on five-eighth Roy Abla's scoring ball to centre Najy Bassil gave the president's men time to collect themselves. The Espoirs continued building pressure, with indefatigable prop Robin Hachache driving his side forward. The first score came 15 minutes through a well contested first period. Balamand wing Firas El Mir and AUB fullback Megho Keychian dithered under Abla's high bomb, allowing Balamand centre Najy Bassil to nip in. Abla's touchline goal made it 6-0.

But the President's XIII hit back with gusto. Espoir coach Remond Safi was forced to throw on AUB second row Mohamed Zaweel and Balamand prop Amin Maassarani, whose defensive qualities were sorely needed to blunt the increasing threat of the hard running Mohamed Jamil and Nicolas Chammas, and the scheming link up play of Chahoud and halfbacks Ahmed Hammoud and Anthony Ghissen. Espoir back row Wael Tawil almost scored after bursting through Sassine Samarani's tackle, only to be hauled down two metres from the line by Keychian, then Robin Hachache was held up by Chahoud after taking a nice ball from scrum half Jad Abinassif. But the Espoirs had to defend desperately at times, too. Ghissen linked up beautifully with his left side three-quarters, centre Ghassan Dandash and AUB rookie wing Wael Harb, to leave the Espoirs in retreat, while Chahoud was prevented from scoring by a goal-line tackle from prop Sol Mokdad. The President's side were gifted an opening after Cedars tourist Youssef El Helou unwisely attempted to offload. Strong approach play by Harb and Dandash had the Espoirs on the back foot, allowing Rehayem to jink through the ruck, passing Darwiche Darwich, Tawil and Robin Hachache, before outmanoeuvring NDU duo Pierre Nasr and Nabil Dora to score under the sticks. He converted his own kick and the half ended 6-6.

The second half started in the same spirit as most of the first – an efficient Espoir set followed by a spectacular exit set by the President's XIII's backs. Within minutes the newcomers were in front. Jamil galloped to within inches of the line and after a thwarted dart for glory by El Mir, Jamil himself squeezed over from dummy half. Rehayem's kick made it 12-6. But a second goal-line drop out from a kick off enabled the Espoirs to hit back immediately. Strong drives from Tawil and Robin Hachache preceded brother Rudi's scoring run. The President's XIII took the lead again after a period of inept Espoir play. On consecutive sets they dropped the ball in their own red zone, and having survived once they weren't allowed to get away with it again. With Abinassif and Khilal Hijal left outnumbered some efficient passing led to Harb's score and a 16-12 lead. The Espoir's displayed some nice hands themselves, with Abla and Rudy Hachache linking up with Nasr who passed to wing Gilbert Haydamous, only for the Balamand flyer to be tackled a metre from the line. On the next play, though, Nasr managed to force the ball down in the corner to tie it up at 16-16. That would have been a fair result but Rudy Hachache got his second after taking an offload on the line and scoring with eight minutes left.