Saudi Arabia take title

Sunday 7th March 2010

Saudi Arabia took the laurels in the inaugural MENA Under-16s Rugby League Championship as their Schools Select edged out hosts Lebanon to take the cup in an exciting, controversial final.

Locked at 14-all on the final whistle both sides, thinking they were in a play-off situation, momentarily prepared for extra time until tournament officials informed them that the round-robin league format put the Saudis at the top of the table on points difference after a larger margin of victory against Palestine XIII.

All 36 players invested a huge amount of effort in a compelling clash, the Saudis deserving winners overall, with most pundits classing them as the best of the competition's three sides.

The Lebanese employed the same formula they had used to get past Palestine: left centre Elie Khoury's strike power out wide and a strong team defensive effort led by back rowers Amer Kazna, arguably Lebanon's player of the tournament, and Mohamed Dennaoui.

The Junior Cedars needed all their fire and determination to resist the Camels' attacks as a nervous home outfit frittered away several possessions. Saudi captain Ruan Knuppel set up fellow South African Daley Herschelman for a 5th minute opener, with Khoury leveling matters three minutes later.

Powerful 15-year-old second rower Bisher Shehabi put the Select 10-4 up on 27 minutes but Khoury tore through once more to score a minute before the break. Crucially, the tournament's top scorer with four tries, chose not to improve the position, touching down in the corner.

The second half saw Lebanon placed under a lot of pressure as Saudi props Cem Havliogui and Marwan Alaa drove the Camels forward, while Knuppel tested the fringes with a neat short passing game, posing questions the Lebanese halves never did of the Saudi defence.

In reply to the Saudis varied attack the Lebanese attempted to unleash Khoury as often as possible, but the tall three-quarter, after his first half blitzkrieg, was well watched by Rackhan Al-Moukhtar, almost his equal in size.

A break by the indefatigable Kazna led to Kadoumi's 50th minute score, but seven minutes later the Saudis had drawn level as Al Moukhtar crashed over, scoring the points that would see the Camels crowned regional champions.

"To say the lads are ecstatic understates the case," exclaimed Saudi manager Shaun Nicholls moments after the match had ended. "We were the better team on the day and grimly held off the Lebanese at the critical moments in a very toughly contested game."

The Saudi team returned bruised, proud and cheerful late Saturday night to Jeddah clutching the silver-plated trophy which was hard won and hugely appreciated.