Match Report

Al-Galacticos got back to winning ways after a two consecutive losses, crushing an AUST side which has had the wind taken out of what were once billowing sails. Lebanon centre Ghassan Dandash registered four tries, while Jounieh were only deprived from topping 50 thanks to a combination of Pierre Nasr’s wayward goal kicking and some repeatedly careless handling in try-scoring situations.

The victory sees Jounieh leapfrog Balamand into second spot, although the northerners and rapidly improving AUB are poised just behind them, both on eight points, both with a game in hand. Jounieh coach Jean Paul Zakhour knows that if the black-and-golds are to ‘three-peat’ his side’s composure with ball in hand must improve.

For AUST, what was once a promising debut season has been hugely disrupted, not only by the mass suspensions following the now infamous brawl with AUB in January, but arguably more so by the hiatus in their schedule, which saw them take the field today for their first real match in two months. Last week’s game against Balamand was postponed due to the maintenance work on Balamand’s field while prior to that they fielded a massively depleted squad against the Wolves following the 16th January match against AUB. Before that game, which resulted in the suspension of nine AUST players – three of whom will play no further part this season – the Lions had been competitive, losing three matches by an average of only eight points; but now the rhythm they had been building up has clearly disappeared.

Jounieh faces a crucial test next weekend, as Balamand come to town. A Balamand win will see the Razorbacks reclaim second spot, by dint of their superior for-and-against, in what is shaping up to be a four-team race for two semi-final spots. In the round’s other match, those other two challengers, AUB and their scion, Wolves RLFC, face off. A big weekend of footy.