Lebanon
38
16
Malta
Half-time
Lebanon: 0
Malta: 0
Tries
Lebanon:
  • Ead Kassem,
  • Ead Kassem,
  • Daniel Abou-Sleiman,
  • Daniel Abou-Sleiman,
  • Cliff Nye,
  • Abbas Miski,
  • Richard Coorey
Malta:
  • Kyal Greene,
  • Kyal Greene,
  • Mitch Barbara
Goals
Lebanon:
  • James Boustani (5/6)
Malta:
  • Dylan Frendo (2/3)
Teams
Lebanon:
  • Daniel Abou-Sleiman,
  • Cliff Nye,
  • Tarek el Masri,
  • Abbas Miski,
  • Adnan el Zbadieh,
  • Mark Daoud,
  • James Boustani,
  • Richard Coorey,
  • Jamie Clark,
  • Mitchell Mamary,
  • Elias Sukkar,
  • Nick Kassis,
  • Chris Saab.
  • Subs: Ead Kassem,
  • Danny Barakat,
  • Wael Harb
Malta:
  • Mitch Barbara,
  • Dylan Frendo,
  • Aaron Weston,
  • David Farrugia,
  • Nathan Falzon,
  • Jeremy Carruthers,
  • Andrew Sultana,
  • Matthew Mizzi,
  • James Redman,
  • Jake Lennox,
  • Kyal Greene,
  • Josh Scicluna,
  • Blake Phillips.
  • Subs: Kane Fuller,
  • Nathan Portelli,
  • Luke Vella,
  • Corey Harland

Match report

Lebanon underlined why they are favourites to qualify for the 2017 World Cup in Australia by beating Malta comfortably in Sydney. The Cedars have missed out on the last two World Cups on a penalty and a countback but seem well placed to make the next tournament, with South Africa their main rivals in the new qualifying procedure.

James Boustani of Hills Bulls pulled all the strings for the Cedars from halfback, while Auburn’s Ead Kassem posted a brace of tries near the end to assure his side of victory. Malta led 16-12 with 20 minutes to go, after Kyal Greene crashed over. The Knights had level-pegged up until that point, with Mitch Barbara and Jeremy Carruthers posting earlier touchdowns.

Pictured: Abbas Miski breaks through Malta's defence.