MEDITERRANEAN CUP - MATCH 6

Lebanon retained their Mediterranean Cup crown in breathtaking style on Saturday evening, beating France 26-18 in the final of the week long rugby league tournament in Tripoli’s International Stadium. Wissam El Masri’s interception try in the last minute sealed the tense win after France had dominated the second half, clawing their way back from a 14-2 halftime deficit to trail 20-18.

Ray Moujali and Samer El Masri scored first half tries for the Bartercard Cedars with crack fullback Hazem El Masri chipping in three goals against a tired looking French side. But a fired up Les Bleus outfit stormed back into the game as they attempted to avenge their 36-6 humiliation in last year’s Med Cup.

Classy scrum half Maxime Greseque, contained in the first period, began to threaten the Lebanese line with young Limoux centre Fabrice Estebanez on the end of two passing moves to add to his 10 tries against Serbia and one against Morocco. Greseque scored himself after an outrageous dummy close to the line but a spectacular individual try from Hazem El Masri coupled with his brother’s late heroics prevented the visitors from completing their comeback.

LEBANON

FRANCE
Terrado, Marrot, Sirvent, Estebanez, Van Snick, Frayssinous, Grésèque, Carrasco, Azéma, Jampy, Gagliazzo, Berthézène, Hechiche. Subs: Julia, Cologni, Rovira, Raguin