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SAUDI SCHOOLS SET UP CEDARS SHOWDOWN

Thursday 4th March 2010

Palestine XIII 0 (0) – 20 (8) Saudi Schools Select

Saudi Select tries: Bishar Shehabi, Mazen Ghobara, Daley Herschalman, Pranay Abraham, Ahmad Al Darubi. Goals: Zander Potgeiter 0/3, Herschalman 0/2

The second match in the MENA Under-16s Championship saw the visiting Saudi Schools Select set down their marker with a convincing all round display against an inexperienced Palestine XIII.

A tough first half, once again witnessed by the British ambassador, saw the hard-working Palestinians defending with vigour and, at times, desperation as the efficient Camels hammered away at their line. It was a credit to the scrambling defenders that the Camels weren’t able to touch down until the 11^th minute, when impressive prop Beshar Shehabi cut through to score. That score ushered in a long period of attrition, which the Saudis finally ended with diminutive wing Daley Hershalman’s 29^th minute try from a well worked overlap.

The defensive effort invested in the first half meant the Palestinians succumbed to fatigue in the second period, with the Saudis earning the right to shift the ball with greater frequency. Substitute Pranay Abraham scored 10 minutes after the restart, then two more quick tries, from second row Ahmad Al Darubi (48) and centre Mazen Ghobara (53), finished off the debutant Palestinians. It could have been worse had the Saudis’ kickers not missed on all five conversion attempts.

Well drilled and direct, the Camels, marshaled by South African halfback Ruan Knuppel, are a much better side than the outfit that was defeated by Lebanon in October. Full of strong running and stronger defending they will head into Saturday’s final match against the Junior Cedars full of confidence.

PALESTINE XIII
1 Majed Abou Raya
2 Kassem Balkis
3 Mohammed Hamad
4 Ali Mourdaa
5 Ahmad Wakad
6 Ibrahim Najem
7 Badr Bawardi
8 Mohamed Ardini
9 Khaled Sheikh Issa
10 Youssef El Hassan
11 Hadi Abou Chendi
12 Mohamed Abdullatif
13 Mohamed Khaled

14 Mahmoud Hammoud
15 Mohamed Hassan

Coach Ahmad El Masri / Rabie El Masri

SAUDI SCHOOLS SELECT

1 Ahmad Zaher

2 Hassan Sharbatly

3 Samer Balaa

4 Mazen Ghobara

5 Daley Herschalman

6 Farid Abdul Wahab

7 Ruan Knuppel

8 Cem Halvangi

9 Haran Zazouk

10 Marwan Alaa Adel Ghany Gamaleldin

11 Bishar Shehabi

12 Osama Abdullah

13 Zander Potgeiter

14 Liam McRaith

15 Pranay Abraham

16 Salman Abulnasr

17 Ahmad Al Darubi

18 Rakan Al Mouktar

Coaches: Chris Ratcliffe / Dave Kinkead