Match Report

A sensational, controversial ending accentuated a thrilling match on Sunday morning to bring a close to the Bank of Beirut Rugby League Championship in 2009. With last year's semi-finalists USJ, forced to face their demons following their capitulation against LAU a week ago, taking on bottom placed AUST, who had overcome two first-up massacres to compete with Jounieh last week, it was arguably the most eagerly anticipated clash of the round.

For USJ, demon-facing was made a little easier by the return of favourite son Ramy Rassi, the reigning John Elias Award winner back from France for just this game, and by the end of a see-sawing match of two distinctly opposing halves it was AUST who had succumbed to the voices inside their heads.

The match followed a common script early on as new boys AUST rapidly conceded points through their own errors. After Saints centre Hanna Hajjar's 10th minute try AUST failed to kick off the requisite ten metres, setting up the position from which Christian Nader went over.

The ensuing kick off then sailed out on the full, allowing the prolific Jad Gebrael to punish AUST further. With eighteen minutes on the clock it was 16-0 to the Saints.

A 25th minute try from Frederick Makhlouf lifted the Lions' spirits but USJ's Espoir back row Rony Akel scored a demoralizing try a minute before the break to make it 22-6.

The second half witnessed the same kind of robust challenge AUST had mounted against the champions with player-coach Rabie El Masri collecting a 60th minute try, which boosted his resolute Lions immeasurably. Their spirits were lifted yet further following Nader's yellow card, and when giant prop Paul Ayash scored his second try in as many weeks on 65 minutes it was 22-18 and anyone's game.

USJ's defence muscled up to resist AUST's subsequent raids before momentum shifted dramatically USJ's way. With AUST in possession five metres from the Saints' line El Masri was penalized, then dramatically sent off for insulting referee Nayef Abisaid. With him went AUST's hopes and the chances of a first major upset of the season so far. But the drama did not end their as El Masri attempted to bring his team off the pitch in a protest at what he considered inconsistent officating. Order was rapidly restored, though, as AUST played out the remainder of a dizzying match.

AUST will fancy their chances against Wolves RLFC - the clash of the debutants -when the season resumes on 9th January, while USJ, having answered a few questions, ultimately only succeeded in casting further doubts on the veracity of their challenge.


Sin bin: Christian Nader (USJ)
Sent off: Rabie El Masri (AUST)