Mitchell Moses steps up to guide Lebanon to victory over France
MITCHELL Moses has scored a clutch seven points in three minutes to give Lebanon their first Rugby League World Cup win with a 29-18 victory over France.
MITCHELL Moses has scored a clutch seven points in three minutes to give Lebanon their first Rugby League World Cup win with a 29-18 victory over France.
Lebanon played in the 2000 World Cup but wasn’t successful in any of their pool games back then.
On Sunday scores were level at 18-apiece with just seven minutes remaining at Canberra Stadium, when Moses broke the deadlock with a field goal set up by Robbie Farah.
The Parramatta NRL star then sealed the win with a piece of individual magic in the next set, chipping and chasing for himself to help Lebanon win their opening game of the tournament.
Travis Robinson added the icing on the cake with a try in the final minute.
Lebanon needed every bit of experience out of their NRL contingent after being pushed by a high-octane French side that pushed the boundaries in attack. Their risky style resulted in Brad Fittler’s side dominating possession early, however France also managed to convert some of their chances into scoreboard pressure.
It wasn’t until Moses delivered in the final minutes that Lebanon were able to put France away.
Late Lebanon call-up Adam Doueihi appeared to have set up the win earlier in the second half when he plucked a Moses kick to give his team the lead in the 63rd minute.
However the French set up a thrilling final 10 minutes after halfback William Barthau nailed a tricky conversion of Damien Cardace’s 68th minute try to tie the scores again.
Lebanon took the ascendancy early when Farah and Moses combined to put fullback Anthony Layoun over for first points in the eighth minute, while Abbas Miski bombed a chance soon after.
France responded through a questionable Bastien Ader try in the 16th minute, when the video referee was unable to prove the winger was stopped in a strong tackle by Layoun.
Bartheau levelled with a penalty goal in the 20th minute.
The points appeared to have settled the French, however Cedars hooker Michael Lichaa set up a crucial try for Robinson with a line break in the final minute of the half.
France again hit back when winger Ilias Bergal soared to tap back a Barthau kick for Ader to nab his second soon after resumption.
LEBANON 29 (T Robinson 2 A Doueihi A Layoun M Moses tries M Moses 4 goals M Moses field goal) bt FRANCE 18 (B Ader 2 D Cardace tries W Barthau 3 goals) at GIO Stadium. Referee: Gerard Sutton.
Originally published as Mitchell Moses steps up to guide Lebanon to victory over France
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