Two Saudi players, Rackan Al-Moukhtar and Farid Abdulwahab and two from Lebanon were awarded summer trials at professional rugby clubs Harlequins and Warrington for this summer and will play at least one game each in the world famous clubs’ colors in the UK.
“We do it hard but we do it right,” David Kinkead head coach of the Saudi Camels said shortly after the final. “The lads really pulled out all the stops against this powerful Lebanon team. The pack was magnificent and the defense by the whole team determined.”
Lebanon opened their account early with a surprise attack along the wing and went over the Saudi line in the corner to chalk up four points from the unconverted try. “This stung and we took the game by the scruff of the neck,” said Kinkead.
The Camels, as they did in the qualifying game against Palestine, set up camp a few meters from the Lebanon line against a frenetic defense.
The breakthrough came when Hasan Zakzouk launched a crashing short charge for an unconverted try leveling the score at four points each at half time.
The second half was, in Kinkead’s words, “very, very tough, but our pack was again completely dominant.” The second row and prop forward broke through time and again in mid-field charges battering their way forward but were thwarted by an increasingly desperate defense and some unfortunate knock-forward or dropped balls.
The Saudi three quarter line suddenly clicked and in a field-length sweeping run, the ball passed through six sets of hands as the line shimmered through the defenders. William McRaith took delivery and plunged over the Lebanese line for an unconverted corner try.
The stinger stung, Lebanon held onto possession of the ball for seven phases and resisted an incredible 41 tackles, inching forward ineluctably toward the Saudi line and grinding down the defenders.
Their display of grit paid off with an unconverted try in the Saudi corner.
At eight points all and with two minutes on the clock at the restart, the championship teams had everything to play for.
Saudi full back Waleed Mufti put in a huge up-and-under kick from deep inside his own half and set the Camels racing forward.
The Lebanese catcher knocked forward under the eyes of the Camels bearing down on him at speed and a scrum ensued.
The Lebanese were penalized in the scrum and the Saudi joint captains in a position to score an easy two points from a kick took the brave decision to go for a decisive win.
A quick tap penalty and a well laid pass out to man of the match and tournament Farid Abdulwahab, in blood-stained shirt and full battle mode, sealed the Lebanese fate with a characteristically shattering run.
Zander Potgieter converted and took the Saudi score to a well-deserved 14-8 win over a tough and challenging Lebanon.
The team returned to the Kingdom late on Saturday for a well-earned day of rest before returning to their schools.
