The Lebanon Cedars impressed in their final hit-out before the Rugby League World Cup, defeating Niue 32-16 tonight at Leichhardt Oval.
With the opening match of the tournament just two weeks away against France, Head Coach Brad Fittler selected a strong line-up that boasted NRL stars Robbie Farah and Michael Lichaa.
After a bruising opening to the match with Niue enjoying a wealth of possession, the Cedars eventually opened the scoring through fullback Anthony Layoun who sliced through close to the line.
Strathfield Raiders junior Adam Doueihi converted the try from out wide, giving Lebanon a 6-0 lead after 18 minutes.
Soon after the first quarter break, Doueihi gave right centre James Elias a great short ball to go over and score the second of the night.
Doueihi made it two from two conversions, taking the Cedars out to a 12-0 lead after 25 minutes.
On the stroke of half time, replacement playmaker Jason Wehbe put up a perfect cross-field kick, which was scooped up by winger Bilal Maarbani for a try in the corner.
With Doueihi on the bench, Abbas Miski took over the kicking duties but was unable to convert from the sideline as the Cedars went into the sheds with a 16-0 lead.
With the Cedars having the majority of the ball in the opening stages of the second stanza, Miski eventually took advantage, scooping up a loose ball to crash over.
The North Sydney Bears junior was unable to convert his own try, however the Cedars now held a 20-0 lead after 49 minutes.
With a host of the starting side retreating to the interchange bench, Niue crossed for their first try of the night through Jamel Hunt.
While the try was unconverted, however Niue raced back up the other end to score another try through fullback Latrell Schaumkel.
The conversion was successful, with the Cedars holding a 20-10 lead at the three-quarter break.
The majority of the Cedars starting team returned to the field for the final quarter, with Farah showing his class in the 69th minute as he sliced through the Niue defence and set up Wehbe on the inside.
Maarbani took over the kicking duties and slotted the easy conversion to take Lebanon’s lead out to 26-10 with nine minutes remaining.
Moments later it was second rower Nick Kassis who sliced through from an inside pass to extend the Cedars lead.
Maarbani added his second conversion of the night to make it 32-10 with four minutes remaining.
With just two minutes remaining in the game, Niue scored a late try to narrow the formidable lead through George Lolo.
Alex Seini converted the try, with Lebanon’s lead cut to 32-16 at full-time.
Lebanon Cedars 32 (Layoun, Elias, Maarbani, Miski, Wehbe, Kassis tries; Doueihi 2/2, Maarbani 2/2, Miski 0/2 goals) defeated Niue 16 (Hunt, Schaumkel, Lolo tries; Lolo 1/2, Seini 1/1 goals)
Lebanon Cedars vs Niue
1. Anthony Layoun
2. Bilal Maarbani
3. James Elias
4. Travis Robinson
5. Abbas Miski
6. Adam Doueihi
7. Robbie Farah ©
8. Elias Sukkar
9. Michael Lichaa
10. Mitchell Mamary
11. Nick Kassis
12. Chris Saab
13. Ahmed Ellaz
14. Danny Barakat
15. Jamie Clark
16. Jason Wehbe
17. Andrew Kazzi
18. Jaleel Seve-Derbas
19. Raymond Sabat
20. Ali Arou Arabi
21. Wael Harb
22. Imad Chidiac
23. Toufic El Hage
