The Palestine spirit seems to have rubbed off onto the AUST squad as the Lions had players backing up and others missing, due to the Palestinian game against AUB, the previous night. Their bodies might have wanted to give up, but their minds refused to give in as they fought the entire game with injured players and at times less then thirteen on the field. Even their coach Ahmad Masri, was needed to lace on the boots in the second half, as his team wanted to play it out to the final whistle.
Unfortunately for the Lions, a rugby league game is won on the scoreboard and they went down a whopping 48-12 to UOB.
The Razorbacks dominated the opening half of possession and after a willful defensive effort in the first stanza of play, the Lions could not hold on and UOB was able to mount a comfortable thirty-six point lead at the break.
Allen Soultan, Riad Khoury and rookie Hilal Kaddoumi all scored twice, while Labeb Ghanem, Gaton Osman, and Mohamed Saker rounded off the try feast.
The rookie and erratic Elie Khoury and Ahmad Masri crossed over for the Lions four pointers.
AUST coach Ahmad Masri expressed his disappointment at his side's energy levels. ''We were flat as tacks. We were short on bodies but we were still terrible. After last week, I expected something better than that for sure. I mean, we had energy last week but we had no energy at all today. Our forwards struggled. Everybody struggled. I reckon maybe three blokes who looked good at times. I have genuine concerns but there is nothing I can do right now, except keep working at it''
Feb 19: UOB v AUST (2pm, Bhamdoun)
UOB 48 (36) v AUST 12 (0)
UOB Tries: Allen Soultan 2, Riad Khoury 2, Labeb Ghanem, Gaton Osman, Hilal Kaddoumi 2, Mohamed Shaker.
UOB Goals : Allen Soultan 2/3, Samer Nehme 1/ 2, Riad Khoury 3/3, Jonathon Finanious 0/1
AUST Tries: Elie Khoury. Ahmad Masri. AUST Tries: Ahmad Masri 2/2
Referee: Faysal Jaber, Touch judge Jad Essiely, Ahmad Fadallah, 4th official Gaby Haddad
AUST Team: L. Assad, S. Mahamad, H. Baalbacky, O. Manokian, O. Olaywen, A. Masri, T. Shouman, O. Ouri, R. Hasham, M. Sakaa, M. Gharib, s. Jouz, H. Fadallah,
UOB Team: R. Khoury, M. Elias, j. Finanouis, H.Kaddoumi, K.Darwich, G. Osman, A.Soultan, L.Ghanem, E.Hdayed, A. Shouak, S.Nehme, M. Shaker, Y.Darwich, S. Assaf, s. Kelkhashian, G. Elias, H. Kalouch