In a sober start to this weekend of rugby league games at Bhamdoun Stadium on Saturday, February 19, the LRLF held a minute of silence in respect for Ahmad Hammoud’s (LAU) mother who tragically lost her life in a car accident during the week.

It is strange to think so, but the LAU Immortals looked well off the pace against their archrivals Jounieh. Despite the scoreboard showing a 44-20 win, LAU was not able to put them away, until late in the second half. The undefeated green machine looked very rusty this time out, but was helped by the inexperienced Jounieh players that were unable to keep LAU under the hammer for a longer period.    

Bahige Saridar and Karim Ibrahim, each crossed the line twice, while Robin Hachache, Rudy Hachache, Hassan Shaheen, Joe Safa all picked up their own four pointers, while Karim Jamal kicked twelve points with his six from seven attempts at goal.

All Jounieh points came from their Cedar squad members with Ghassan Dandach scoring two tries while Pierre Nasr and Youssef Helou picking up the other four pointers with Pierre Nasr kicking two goals.

For the Jounieh Club, it is all about baby steps as they look to strike up new combinations, with the roster having undergone a major facelift. ''We're still tinkering with a few things’’, Club President, John Paul Zakhour said. ''You look at the Immortals, they are really settled - that was just about their grand final side bar one or two and we are just sort of rolling along. It is a work in progress. I know we have a hell of a lot of improvement in us given they are the best team in the competition. I do not think we are that far off at the moment. Once we have seventeen blokes week-in week-out and we start to build combinations and that sort of stuff, I am pretty excited with the direction we're taking.”

Feb 19: Jounieh RLFC v LAU (12pm, Bhamdoun)

LAU 44 (18) v 20 (6) JHN

LAU Tries : Robin Hachache, Karim Ibrahim 2, Rudy Hachache, Hassan Shaheen, Joe Safa, Bahige Saridar 2.

LAU Goals: Karim Jamal 6/7, Walid Yassine 0/1

Jounieh Tries: Ghassan Dandach 2 Pierre Nasr, Youssef Helou.

Jounieh Goals: Pierre Nasr 2/4

Yellow Cards: Johnny Khawan, Youssef Helou (JHN)

Referee: Faysal Jaber, Touch Judge Gaby Haddad, Jad Essiely,

Jounieh Team: Y. Helou, J.Asmar, J.Zakhour, M. Khoury, N. Abi Saab, J. Tannous, J. Khawan, G. Dandach, N. Zaide, Wae. Boustany, Wad. Boustany, N. Dora, H. Merowue, S. Moubarak. P. Nasr

LAU Team: Khoury, K. Ibrahim, B. Saridar, H. Shaheen, J. Safa, K.Jamal, Ru, Hacachace, Ro. Hachache, B. Nasrallah, W. Yassine, N .Abi Said, A. Fadallah, M .Knio, K. Haddad, R. Ghandour, A. Itani, Ab. Hammoud