Palestinians make international debut

Tuesday 2nd March 2010

The first ever Middle East North Africa U16s Championship kicked off in fine style at the spectacular AUB sports complex on Monday night.

Attended by guest of honour Her Excellency Frances Guy, the British ambassador, another chapter in the region's burgeoning love affair with rugby league began. 

The Palestinians had the better of the early running, adopting a sensibly conservative approach and pressing the Lebanese back but handling errors prevented them opening the scoring.  Lebanon relied on their experienced players to get them out of trouble. Amer Kazna and fellow second row Mohammed Dennaoui ran hard all night and in halves Hilal Kadoumi and Hossam Kalouch the hosts had direction and momentum.

Their chief strike player, Lycee Nahr Ibrahim's Elie Khoury, gave the Junior Cedars a decisive edge. The rangy centre touched down in the 13th minute before setting the tournament alight with a scintillating 90-metre gallop down the left sideline, undermining Palestinian morale.

But the visitors showed plenty of character to stay in the game and despite conceding a third try, this time to man-of--match Kadoumi when reduced to 12-men following Ibrahim Najem's 59th minute yellow card, Palestine had the last word, with the influential Khaled Sheikh Issa burrowing over with the last play of a hard-fought and evenly contested match.

The tournament continues on Thursday when the Palestinians take on Saudi Schools.

 Mena Under 16s Championship - Match One

Lebanon U16s 16 (10) - 6 (0) Palestine XIII U16s
Lebanon tries: Elie Khoury 2, Hilal Kadoumi. Goals Kadoumi 2/3
Palestine tries: Khaled Sheikh Issa. Goals: Mohamed Abdellatif 1/