Qatar down Lebanon to win Asian Rugby Division III Chionship

Doha: The Qatar National Rugby team annexed the 2016 Asian Rugby Championship Division III with a well-taken 25-19 victory over last season’s champions Lebanon in the final at the Aspire Warm up and purpose built rugby track after a 12-12 dead lock at the break.

The Lebanese Phoenix team led 6 -0 after ten minutes of play thanks to captain and goal kicker Karim Jammal who landed two easy penalty goals.

However a fundamental infringement (tripping) by Lebanon’s Mohammad Turk saw them reduced to 14 men and the host nation wasted no time capitalizing on the sin bin which saw Paul Beard pouncing on a loose ball and running ten meters to claim the first try of the match (6-5).

Beard could not convert his own try however Jammal’s radar boots extended the visitors lead when Qatar infringed in their quarter and in front of the posts.

Jammal’s third penalty kick gave the Phoenix a four point buffer (9-5) half way through the opening half. With all the pressure on Qatar now chasing the game they had to lay the foundation for a win.

After some neat sets of play and wide passing Qatar crossed over for their second try of the match courtesy of centre man Mathew Uffindall. Beard’s conversion was successful giving the home side the lead for the very first time (12-9).

Qatar then continued to display courage and showed great intent as they managed to impose themselves on the match even though they had to contend with a few strong plays by the visitors to reverse the flow of the match.

After holding the upper hand in the opening eighteen minutes Lebanon started to feel the pinch of trailing by 3 points. Instead of staying level headed and playing to their set patterns Phoenix tried to play Qatar’s game which proved detrimental as time and time again they came up empty-handed.

Qatar was presented with opportunities to further extend the lead which could have made an impact on the scoreboard but instead made forced errors and recklessly gave easy penalties allowing Lebanon’s centre Jammal to lock the score 12-12 at the break.

The early second-half play was fast and furious with Lebanon scoring their first try through Martin Wahbe. The ever ready boot of Jammal was right on target stretching the lead 19-12. Play in the ensuing stages was fairly patchy and defenses held but it was Qatar who crossed over next thanks to Malcolm Reid. Lebanon maintained the lead as Beard was unable to level the scores (19-17).

Thriving on pressure Lebanon responded with a series of storming drives up field and long kicks but just when it seemed they could breach the Qatar defense a pass went astray with the try line in sight.

With 15 minutes remaining on the clock Qatar forwards drove the defense which gave flanker and fast man Jamie Frost the opportunity to stretch over for his first try of the tournament. That put his team in the lead once again (22-19). The horror night for Beard with his boots continued as another missed conversion went begging.

Lebanon threatened in patches but never looked like breaking down the Qatar’s defense again as they set off in search of five points to upstage the home team in the closing stages of the match.

As the clock ticked on frustration was set in the minds of the visitors who were playing catch up rugby. The pressure proved to be too much for Lebanon’s Firas El Chami who was penalized and given a yellow card . The penalty kick by Beard found its mark and Qatar was able to extend the lead by six points. The final score Qatar 25 Lebanon 19.

The Peninsula