Match Report

2022 International Friendlies

08 October 2022 • KO 15:00

22 v 38

CorpAcq Stadium, Sale

Attendance: 509

Referee : Tom Grant

Match Stats
4   Tries   8
3   Conversions   3
0   Penalties   0
0   Drop Goals   0

Match Report

Lebanon


By Andy Morgan

Wales’ final match before Rugby League World Cup 2021 ended in defeat at Heywood Road.

Lebanon scored eight tries, with Wales responding through Anthony Walker, Curtis Davies (2) and Kyle Evans.

All 24 players in the World Cup squad featured for Wales, with Kyle Evans and Caleb Aekins making their international debuts and seven players who currently play, or have played, for host club Swinton Lions, took to the field.

It was the perfect start for Wales when on four minutes, Walker came charging onto the ball close to the line and went over under the sticks, leaving James Olds with a simple conversion.

Lebanon responded on 11 minutes as Khaled Rajeb supported the break of Joshua Maree to score under the sticks. The Cedars made it back-to-back tries from the following set, with Kiraz showing great pace to burst through the centre of the field and race 40 metres to the try line. Doueihi was only able to convert one of the scores, giving Lebanon a 10-6 lead after 15 minutes.

The Lebanese were next to strike, too, as Elie El-Zakhem had enough strength to withstand three Welsh tacklers and ground the ball on the try line. It could have been worse for John Kear’s men moments later when Elliot Kear was beaten in the aerial duel by Abbas Miski, only for the winger to be ruled offside in his kick-chase.

It was a reprieve that only lasted a matter of minutes, when a Rajeb grubber was hunted down first by Michael Tannous.

Wales had a chance to add to their early score when Walker picked up on a loose pass and set Ralph clear. The scrum-half raced 40 metres into the Lebanon half before opting to kick for the chasing James Olds, but Lebanon cleared up.

Then get a moment of quality just before the hooter, with Adam Doueihi looping a pass over the head of Rhys Williams and into the arms of Josh Mansour, to give Lebanon a 24-6 half-time lead.

Wales had enjoyed little front foot ball throughout the first half, but a strong carry from Tom Hopkins set them on their way. Josh Ralph took advantage to run at the line, ably supported by Curtis Davies, who finished next to the posts and giving Elliot Kear a straightforward conversion attempt.

He repeated the feat from the next set, after Ben Evans crossed over the halfway line untouched, offloading to Curtis Davies who finished from 30 metres. Kear’s second conversion brought Wales to within six points.

After that quickfire double, the next score came from the Cedars, working an overlap on the left hand side that provided the opportunity for Tony Maroun to finish in the corner, and when Bilal Maabani crossed in almost the same spot minutes later, it gave Lebanon a commanding 32-18 lead with 15 minutes remaining.

There was still fire in the Welsh dragon, and after a neat inside ball from Ralph sent Butler racing clear, Lebanon were in retreat. Fozard picked the pass from the next play and found Kyle Evans who finished acrobatically in the corner.

Andrew Kazzi scored with a couple minutes left on the clock, with Abbas Miski’s conversion finishing the scoring for the afternoon.

Team Lists and Scoring Information

Wales Tries Goals DGs Pts Cards
1 Mike Butt
2 James Olds 1 2
3 Rhys Evans
4 Luis Roberts
5 Rhys Williams
6 Ollie Olds
7 Josh Ralph
8 Anthony Walker 1 4
9 Matty Fozard
10 Dan Fleming
11 Rhodri Lloyd
12 Bailey Antrobus
13 Gavin Bennion
Substitute
14 Caleb Aekins
15 Joe Burke
16 Chester Butler
17 Connor Davies
18 Curtis Davies 2 8
19 Ben Evans
20 Kyle Evans 1 4
21 Will Evans
22 Dalton Grant
23 Tom Hopkins
24 Elliot Kear 2 4
Lebanon Tries Goals DGs Pts Cards
1 Jacob Kiraz 1 4
2 Josh Mansour 1 4
3 Reece Robinson
4 Brandon Morkos
5 Abbas Miski 1 2
6 Adam Doueihi 1 2
7 Khaled Rajab 1 1 6
8 Toufic El Hajj
9 Mikey Tannous 1 4
10 Hanna El-Nachar
11 Elie El-Zakhem 1 4
12 Josh Maree
13 James Roumanos
Substitute
14 Anthony Layoun
15 Andrew Kazzi 1 4
16 Bilal Maarbani 1 4
17 Jalal Bazzaz
19 Khalil Rahme
20 Jaxson Rahme
22 Tony Maroun 1 4
24 Robin Hachache
Time Score Player Team Action
3 4 - 0 Anthony Walker Wales Try
5 6 - 0 James Olds Wales Conversion
11 6 - 4 Khaled Rajab Lebanon Try
12 6 - 6 Adam Doueihi Lebanon Conversion
13 6 - 10 Jacob Kiraz Lebanon Try
15 6 - 10 Adam Doueihi Lebanon Missed Conversion
28 6 - 14 Elie El-Zakhem Lebanon Try
28 6 - 14 Khaled Rajab Lebanon Missed Conversion
34 6 - 18 Mikey Tannous Lebanon Try
36 6 - 20 Khaled Rajab Lebanon Conversion
40 6 - 24 Josh Mansour Lebanon Try
40+ 6 - 24 Khaled Rajab Lebanon Missed Conversion
50 10 - 24 Curtis Davies Wales Try
50 12 - 24 Elliot Kear Wales Conversion
52 16 - 24 Curtis Davies Wales Try
52 18 - 24 Elliot Kear Wales Conversion
56 18 - 28 Tony Maroun Lebanon Try
58 18 - 28 Khaled Rajab Lebanon Missed Conversion
62 18 - 32 Bilal Maarbani Lebanon Try
63 18 - 32 Khaled Rajab Lebanon Missed Conversion
71 22 - 32 Kyle Evans Wales Try
72 22 - 32 Elliot Kear Wales Missed Conversion
78 22 - 36 Andrew Kazzi Lebanon Try
79 22 - 38 Abbas Miski Lebanon Conversion