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DIEHARD
08-11-07, 08:43 AM
Wales v Lebanon (Fri)

Date: Friday, 9 November
Kick-off: 2000 GMT
Venue: Halton Stadium, Widnes

Wales face Lebanon at the Halton Stadium, Widnes, bidding to win a place in the repechage final against the winner of Friday's Samoa v USA game.

Victory in both matches is Wales' final chance to make the Rugby League World Cup in Australia in 2008.

Coach Martin Hall's side have a 100% record in 2007, but Sunday's win over Scotland was not enough to overturn a deficit from last year's game in Wales.

"I've never seen a dressing room so low," said assistant coach Kevin Ellis.

"We felt we let ourselves down and it was our mistakes that cost us automatic qualification.

"We just have to learn from that game and we need to get all the negativity out of us and think of the positives, which are we won the game and we're still unbeaten this year."

Celtic Crusaders' new signing Mark Lennon will miss the game, a hamstring injury picked up in the win over Papua New Guinea expected to rule him out until next month.

Lee Briers (ankle) is the major new injury worry, with Ian Webster also carrying a knock.

Wales and Lebanon have met just once before at full international level, in the 2000 World Cup where Wales won 24-22 in Llanelli, Lebanon's last defeat.

Lebanon are missing some of their big names, including injured Sydney Bulldogs star Hazem El Masri, the top points scorer in NRL history with 2,040 points, and Robbie Farah, who Wests Tigers have refused to release.

Penrith Panthers' Hassan Saleh, Wests Tigers' Allen Soultan and Sydney Bulls' Charlie Nohra have all been sent back to Australia with injuries, while seven other players from the 16-16 draw with Ireland last Friday are having treatment.

The winners of the semi-final matches will compete at Featherstone Rovers' Chris Moyles Stadium on Wednesday, 14 November for the 10th and final World Cup spot.

Samoa are heavy favourites to overcome the USA in the other semi-final.

BBC Online

DIEHARD
08-11-07, 08:45 AM
It is hard to see two teams I wanted in the World Cup and two teams I believe deserve to be there, play off one destined never to play in it.

Wales will be stronger and I hope Wales make it.

I'm dirty on Wests for not releasing Farrah for Lebanon.

DIEHARD
08-11-07, 10:08 AM
Lebanon Ride On Back Of Pride

Lebanon go into Friday?s 2008 World Cup Qualifying Repechage semi-final against Wales looking for the chance to earn a ticket of pride to Australia.

The Lebanese failed to collect an automatic qualification place in next year?s finals in Australia when they were held to a 16-16 draw by Ireland in their last qualifying group at Dewsbury last Friday evening.

A successful Irish penalty just two minutes from time saved Andy Kelly's men from defeat and ensured that Lebanon, went into the repechage on points difference.

Victory against the Welsh would send them into the repechage Final at Featherstone next Wednesday evening (14th November) against the winners from the Samoa v USA semi-final. And the prize for victory at the Chris Moyles Stadium would be taking the remaining tenth qualification spot.

Tough forward Ray Moujalli ,who plays for Aussie team Cronulla Sharks, reckons that both he and his teammates have recovered from the disappointment of failing to beat Ireland and are rolling their sleeves up for the televised semi-final against Wales at the Halton Stadium, Widnes on Friday evening.

?The boys know what we have to do? said Moujalli. ?We?re a close knit community back home and this group of players reflect that spirit.

?Now we just want to get out there and give our best performance, and we?re not going to let what happened against Ireland affect us.?

Lebanon has plenty of incentive to make it to the repechage final and qualification because they know they?ll have the support of the massive Lebanese community in Australia next October.

?I can?t even weigh up how massive it would be for us to qualify,? said Moujalli. ?It would simply be the biggest thing imaginable for us and our community, we would have so many people supporting us?.

Moujalli also believes that the communities in the Lebanon, which now have their own domestic Rugby League competitions, will be backing their side in their World Cup endeavours. ?Our families in Australia hear from their relatives in Lebanon that they are following our progress,? he said.

?We accept that these matches can?t be played in the Lebanon because of the situation in the country at the moment but, you never know, some of them might be able to make it here to support us?.

By John Huxley

http://www.rugbyleagueworldcup.com

DIEHARD
08-11-07, 10:09 AM
Wales Need A Tonic

Wales, who in spite of beating Scotland 18-16 in Glasgow last Sunday failed to gain automatic qualification for the World Cup finals because of an inferior points difference, now face a serious challenge when they play Lebanon in the competition’s repechage semi-finals at Halton Stadium, Widnes on Friday.

Mark Rowley, chairman of Wales Rugby League, acknowledges that Welsh head coach Martin Hall and his men face a significant challenge against the Lebanese who drew 16-16 with Ireland at Dewsbury last Friday night and also missed out on an automatic qualification spot on points difference.

“Martin will go straight to work on lifting the team’s spirits,” explained Mark. “We were really down after the game in Scotland on Sunday.

“It was a really weird feeling to have won the match and yet still have to play on in the qualifying competition”.

Wales' biggest headache will undoubtedly be the fitness of Warrington’s goal-kicking stand –off half Lee Briers, who has an ankle problem.

Mark said: “Lee took a fierce blow to the shins and at first we thought that he had broken his leg. But it has turned out to be severe bruising and he’s been receiving treatment in Warrington ever since”.

Their other concerns are hooker Ian Webster and utility back Mark Lennon, who missed the game in Glasgow.

Rowley concedes that, as yet, the Welsh management don’t yet know a great deal about the Lebanese. But they have obtained a video recording of their draw against the Irish and will be spending a great deal of time in the next vital hours studying the Lebanese form.

“But all we can do is concentrate on what our players can do.

“The first job is to get into camp and for Martin to start work on lifting the players’ spirits.

“We suffered a 15-minute flat spot during the game against Scotland and that cost us. Now we shall be impressing on the players that they will have to concentrate and work for the full 80 minutes against Lebanon.

“We’ve got as good a chance as anybody left in the competition to qualify for Australia and a better chance than some others. Our fate is still in our own hands”.

By John Huxley

http://www.rugbyleagueworldcup.com

nflin3
08-11-07, 11:02 AM
Crowd: 910 :rolf:

DIEHARD
08-11-07, 11:37 AM
Crowd: 910 :rolf:

What's wrong with a crowd of 910? That is more than a lot of Premier League or QLD CUP crowds.

These matches are gaining momentium and people are working hard.

I think it is deplorable that you would laugh at their hard work growing rugby league around the world.

DIEHARD
10-11-07, 01:28 PM
Wales 26-50 Lebanon

Wales had their 2008 World Cup hopes ended at the Halton Stadium, Widnes, on Friday night as Lebanon advanced to face Samoa in the repechage final.
Wales looked on course to join England, Ireland and Scotland in the main draw in Australia when they led 20-10 early in the second half.

But after a hat-trick of tries from wing Damian Gibson, Wales conceded five tries in 22 minutes against Lebanon.

Sydney Bulls loose forward Chris Salem was the Lebanon hero with three tries.

Lebanon now advance to face Samoa, who crushed the USA 42-10 earlier in the evening, in Wednesday's repechage final at Featherstone for the 10th and final place at next year's tournament.

Wales and Lebanon had met just once before at full international level, in the 2000 World Cup where Wales won 24-22 in Llanelli, Lebanon's last defeat and they exacted full revenge.

But Wales made a dream start with two tries in the first nine minutes, both crafted by captain Lee Briers, and they totally dominated the first half.

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The Warrington scrum-half hoisted a pinpoint kick for Gibson to touch down at the corner and then got his Wolves team-mate Andy Bracek charging over from his accurate pass.

Centre Frank Samia pulled a try back for Lebanon on 19 minutes but it was virtually all Wales, who twice declined penalty kicks at goal in order to pile on the pressure, but they only had one more try to show for all their efforts.

Gibson finished off superbly for his second after Luke Dyer collected Briers' floated pass and Iestyn Harris kicked his second conversion to make it 16-6.

The game was then thrown wide open just before the break when Salem split the Welsh defence with an outrageous dummy and crossed for Lebanon's second try.

When Gibson produced some more clinical finishing three minutes into the second half to complete his hat-trick, Wales seemed to have re-established their hold on the game.

But three tries in a 12-minute spell turned it upside down.

Scrum-half George Ndaira, Lebanon's only full-time player who is moving from St George Illawarra to Sydney Roosters for 2008, worked Salem over for his second try and then sped over for one of his own to level the scores at 20-20.

Toufic Nicholas' conversion put Lebanon in front for the first time and prop Ray Moujali increased the lead on 57 minutes when he forced his way over from close range.

The Welsh defence opened up again all too easily to allow substitute Ali Kourouche, before Salem completed his hat-trick.

Wales briefly stopped the rot with winger Anthony Blackwood scoring a try which Briers converted, but Lebanon finished well on top with second rower Chris Saab and winger Adham El-Zbaideh adding further tries and Nicholas taking his goal tally to seven from nine attempts.

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Rugby League World Cup Qualifier:

Wales (16) 26:
Tries: Gibson 3, Bracek, Blackwood. Goals: Harris 3.

Lebanon (10) 50:
Tries: Samia, Salem 3, Ndaira, Moujali, Kourouche, Saab, El-Zbaideh. Goals: Toufic 7.

BBC

~lee~
10-11-07, 08:04 PM
I cant believe the score, I watched most of the first half and Wales were the better team by a mile. Briers was playing really well and it looked like Wales were going to run away with it. Lebanon got a harsh penalty against them towards the back end of the first half and lost their heads, they were going into all the tackles trying to rip the blokes head off then kicking the ball away and knocking it outta the Welsh hands on re-starts. I was surprised they didnt get a man in the bin. Well done to the Lebanon coach, his half time team talk worked wonders.

hugebrianfan
10-11-07, 08:05 PM
hahaha guess what..?

I didnt watch the game at all