The Wolves versus Al-Galacticos match always poses to be a symbolic the clash of two titanic clubs, and Saturday 8^th March’s showdown was no less so. Both clubs engaged upon a feral exchange of hard-hitting action and swift use of speed and skill to exploit any weakness the other might present; and all through to full-time, both clubs stood their ground solidly, not allowing their opponents any easy access to a victory. Finally though, Jounieh’s Al-Galacticos reigned supreme, leaving the field with a marked 24-15 victory.

Tight defensive work suppressed both side’s offensive plays, as the first half saw very little change on the score board. Jounieh drew first blood on the 6^th minute as Ghassan Dandash gallantly dove through the Wolves’ defensive line and into the try zone; but The Wolves were not to be left empty handed, with Karim El Mourabet securing a 1-point drop kick on the 14^th minute. This 4-1 score remained until the very end of the first half, when both sides managed to put a few more marks on the board: Galacticos’ Pierre Nasr on the 34^th minute; and Wolves’ veteran, Kinnaird on the 38^th minute; both making dexterous work with their tries, pulling the score to 8-5.

The 2^nd half did not disappoint the crowd though; with The Wolves’ almost immediately taking the lead for the first time with brilliant use of offload’s out to Centre Joe Hitchon, and a decisive try on the 45^th minute. Now trailing 8-9, Al-Galacticos fought on with strong defence, driving back every play, and eventually winning the ball back into their hands. Markedly, big Nicolas Chammas (Jounieh) and the smaller Anthony Elghossain (The Wolves), in a seemingly a David and Goliath matchup, both battled each other an uncountable number of times - both exceptional players earning man-of-the-match awards. But it was thanks to Jounieh’s Youssef Helou’s enigmatic offence with two tries on the 54^th and 68^th minutes that fastidiously marked them as the victors. Both tries were to be converted by Fadi Azam, thus pulling their lead to 20-9. While again Jounieh broadened the gap when Azam put their last try in on the 71^st minute; the monolithic Adel Kanso pulled The Wolves forward one final time on the 76^th minute, and with Irishman Daniel Egan converting, the score closed in to 24-15. But it was a little too late, and the post-match celebrations saw Jounieh etch their way a little further up the Bank of Beirut Championship’s scoreboard.

Both teams left the field knowing such a matchup could have fallen to either side of the fence, and in the tunnel all warriors were held as champions with cheers, applause and brotherly embraces. The match also emotionally stood as the final moment of Wolves’ Head-Coach Mikhael N. Shammas, as he prepares to depart for America to continue with his graduate studies in Sports’ Leadership & International Management. “In life,” Shammas softly spoke to his team of brethren after the match, “you will always be faced with victories and defeats; whether within your personal, professional, academic or sporting careers. But it is how you all recover, both as individuals and as members of something greater, that will mark you as true heroes of our day and age. Throughout all, remember that you are the empyrean of all warrior races.”