AUB jumped to second in the Bank of Beirut Rugby League Championship after a convincing display against close rivals Balamand. The two sides were locked on 14 points prior to Friday night’s match in north Lebanon, but with the win AUB edged ahead in the tight race for a finals berth. Balamand have a game in hand, with its final two matches of the season, both against LAU, looming large as possible deciders.

If Balamand’s post-season prospects remain in doubt, AUB’s, on tonight’s form at least, certainly should not – but they do nonetheless -  setting up next Saturday’s bumper showdown with third placed Jounieh, a point behind them in the table. Even the possible loss of two key players in fullback Wael Harb and front row Adel Kanso, both of whom limped out with knee injuries, should not disrupt the Wolves too drastically, such is the red-hot form they are running into at the right end of the season. Having started the championship with just one win from their opening five games, they have won two of their final quarter matches and are arguably the team to beat.

Tonight they won an arm wrestle with Balamand, with both sides defending with aplomb for most of the match. But in attack it was AUB’s superior class that shone through. Where halves Anthony Ghossein and Darren Kinnaird consistently had options, Balamand’s creativity rested solely on Gilbert Haydamous. Although the experienced five-eighth showed some flashes of brilliance, exemplified by his midfield chip and re-gather that unlocked the Wolves defence in the first period, he had little support, and while the Razorbacks forwards toiled all evening their efforts were matched by AUB’s dynamic pack, in particular lock Chris Hobeiche.

Harb opened the scoring in the 4^th minute, fielding a clearing kick in the shadow of his own posts before haring around Balamand’s left flank to score an 80-metre try. In the 21^st minute AUB were in again – although they were lucky referee Remond Safi didn’t spot George Helou’s fumbled play-the-ball – with Akram Al Chamaa hunting off Kinnaird’s bountiful right shoulder to make it 10-0 at halftime.

Newly converted centre Karim Mourabet, playing one of his best game’s for AUB, ensured AUB maintained the pace in the second period, hitting a nice line off the authoritative Kinnaird to make it 14-0. The home side gave themselves a chance to hit back straight from the kick off, one of two which AUB centre Hashem El Hoss failed to secure. Fullback Riad Khoury, who habitually chewed up a lot of Balamand’s attacking space out wide with his crab-like runs, just managed to squeeze over.

Whereas the first half had been high on quality, the second showed a marked deterioration, with both sides having difficulty hanging onto the greasy ball. A combination of Balamand errors and Kinnaird’s astute tactical kicking game conspired to hand AUB the positions from which they would win the game. On 55 minutes Al Chamaa repeated his combination with Kinnaird to bag his brace, then 20 minutes later Megho Keychian finished off another efficient backline assault with a try in the corner. Mourabet had the last word, scoring on the hooter, again making hay while Kinnaird’s sun shone.