Jounieh became the first side to complete its 16-match schedule on Saturday evening, doing so with a low-key victory over USJ, which dropped its 13^th match of a long season. The defending champions jumped from third to first place by dint of their superior points difference compared to LAU and secured a probable semi-final berth against either of the big two West Beirut clubs.

Three tries from top try-scorer Ghassan Dandash led the way for Al-Galacticos, but in truth it was a lacklustre display that will not have worried either LAU or AUB as knockout football looms. Having unearthed his best halfback pairing in last week’s 72-0 massacre of the Saints, Jounieh player-coach Jean Paul Zakhour was forced once more to play the role of tinkerman and deploy a makeshift halfback pairing following Chemaly’s withdrawal due to a nagging knee complaint.

Vastly depleted USJ bravely took the game to the men in black from the outset but conceded early when Jounieh rake Wissam Chami probed from dummy half, feeding Rodrigue Kyriakides for his first try of the campaign. But any fears of a repeat of last week’s slaughter were rapidly put to bed as the Saints eked out an equal share of the game. They allowed just two more tries – Zakhour’s coming right on the hooter – to end the half just 14-9 down. Remond Safi got USJ off the mark with a cunning field goal, although his goal kicking was less successful, with zero of four attempts. Centre Patrick Leptani cut the lead to one while Frenchman Augustin DeChoulot regathered his speculative chip-and-chase to keep his basement boys in touch.

It was more of the same from Jounieh in the second period as USJ stuck with them and even had them on the back foot. Two tries from USJ’s best player, Ramy Rassy, who was once more outstanding in a beaten side, forced Jounieh to hit back. A sweeping move on the hour-mark put the champions in control. Having staved off another USJ attack Al-Galacticos shifted the ball wide with Dandash shrugging off tacklers on his way to the try-line where he unselfishly passed to the supporting Hassan Merouwe to score. Another passage of enterprising broken field play ten minutes later put the result beyond doubt. Pierre Nasr’s long break was supported by Mohamed Mourtada, with the young scrum half showing enough toe to make it to the line. Two more tries in the final five minutes put a flattering gloss on the score and will probably keep Jounieh out of LAU’s reach if points difference becomes a factor in determining the automatic qualifier for the final.

The game ended in controversy as USJ’s Khaled Rifai was shown his second red card of the season – a Lebanese league record. After referee Robin Hachache ruled a professional foul for deliberately holding down, Rifai refused to heed his command to approach, instead walking off a frustrated figure, unable to see yellow turn to red behind him. Then, in the final minute Rifai entered the field, triggering a confrontation between himself and the official.