Lebanon vs Ireland Live: Rugby League World Cup qualifiers live on BigPond TV

[larryjohnson2]

Wednesday, October 31, 2007 - 3:51 PM
Source: BigPond Sport

With just under a year until the 2008 Rugby League World Cup kicks off the competition to qualify is hotting up.
To ensure you don’t miss any of the action, BigPond brings you live and exclusive online coverage of these final qualifying matches.
The final three places up for grabs will be allocated following the completion of the final five qualifying matches.
Ireland, Samoa, Scotland, Lebanon, USA and Wales are still in the running for a place in the 2008 tournament, to be held in Australia in October and November that will conclude the centenary of rugby league celebrations.
The final round of European qualifying matches see Ireland and Lebanon (Pool 1) and Scotland and Wales (Pool 2) face off.
At the conclusion of these matches the top team from each pool will have qualified for the Rugby League World Cup.
The runners-up in each pool will join Samoa and the USA in the repechage playoffs, in mid-November, to determine the final qualifier for the tournament.
Watch all the qualifiers on BigPond Sport’s League TV live and exclusive.
Rugby League World Cup Qualifying Schedule

November 3
06:00: Match 1 - Ireland v Lebanon (Pool 1)
Dewsbury (England)
November 5
01:00: Match 2 - Scotland v Wales (Pool 2)
Glasgow Hawks (Scotland)
November 10
04:45: Match 3 – Repechage: Euro “A” – Pool 1 Runners-up v Euro “A” – Pool 2 Runners-up
Scotland/Wales v Ireland/Lebanon,
Widnes (England)
November 10
07:00: Match 4 – Repechage: USA (Atlantic Cup Winner v Samoa
Widnes (England)
November 15
07:00: Match 5 – Repechage Final: Winner Match 3 v Winner Match 4
Wakefield (England)

Note: Dates and times are AEDT
The Qualifying Process So Far
The USA defeated Japan 54-18 to win the Atlantic Cup and advance to the repechage playoffs.
In a thrilling finale group winners Tonga collected the Pacific Cup title on for-and-against after finishing tied with Fiji and Samoa.
Tonga and runners-up Fiji qualified directly for the Rugby League World Cup. Third-placed Samoa qualified for the repechage playoffs.
Europe B group winners Russia, and runners-up Georgia, won through to the Europe ‘A’ qualifying phase ahead of Serbia and Holland.
In Europe A qualifying, Ireland and Lebanon are locked at the top of Pool 1 after fighting out an 18-all draw in their last match, with both recording two wins over pointless Russia.
Pool 2 was reduced to two teams after Georgia’s disqualification for a breach of the qualifying protocol by failing to participate in a Europe B match in June.
Of the remaining two teams Scotland hold the advantage having earlier beaten Wales 21-14.

Source: http://bigpondsport.com/Home/NewsArticle/tabid/70/Default.aspx?newsId=13435

 

[crimpo]

top work larryjohnson - I'm enjoying a spirited rendition of the Irish anthem as I write

 

[freeridermx]

can we see a replay of this on big pond as i was unable to watch it this morning .

 

[Mr. Fahrenheit]

im also looking for the replay?

 

[Nfed]

Lebanon 16 Ireland 16: Late Bridge penalty gives Ireland place in the World Cup By Dave Hadfield

Published: 03 November 2007



Ireland will be in the World Cup in Australia next year, a late Chris Bridge penalty giving them the draw they needed to win their group on points difference at Dewsbury last night.
The rugged Lebanese were heading for victory when Scott Grix dropped a routine high kick to present Frank Samia with a try. The Irish stuck to the job, however, and four minutes from time a high tackle from Hassan Salah – a Lebanese failing all night – gave Bridge an easy kick to take his side through, while the Lebanon face a much more difficult second chance to qualify with Samoa barring their way.
"You could see how much both teams wanted to avoid that," said the Irish coach, Andy Kelly. "I'm really proud of what we've achieved because we had to show some real resolve."
The Irish set out their stall from the first tackle of the match, a legal but brutal one from Wigan's Eamonn O'Carroll, which knocked the ball out of the grasp of a stunned Ray Moujalli. It looked the sort of opportunity that needed to be seized upon and it was when Paul Handfort's kick set up a try for Liam Finn.
The elusive George Ndaira struck back for the Lebanese, picking up a pass off the ground to scoot over. The Irish stretched their lead, thanks to some wonderful footwork and a clever kick from Sean Gleeson, touched down by Handfort.
Salah had a try disallowed for a marginal offside but Ireland were worth their half-time lead. Yet it was badly eroded eight minutes into the second half when Chris Salem barged over the Irish line and Toufic Nicolas then landed the goal from the touchline.
Some desperate Irish defending was helped when Charlie Nohra was sent to the sin-bin for a high tackle. Another penalty gave Bridge the chance to bring them some breathing space, but most of the drama was sandwiched into the last few minutes.
Lebanon: Nicolas; Saleh, Samia, Salah, El Zbaideh; Farah, Ndaira; Nohra, Clark, Moujalli, Koborsi, Saab, Salem. Substitutes used: Kourouthe, Soultan, Hachache, Joseph.
Ireland: Grix; Blanch, Littler, Gson, Stewart; Handforth, Finn; Cassidy, Beswick, O'Carroll, Prescott, Corcoran, Doran. Substitutes used: Bridge, Gibbons, Treacy, Kerr.
Referee: A Klein (Keighley).

Source: The Independant

 

[Mr. Fahrenheit]

im on the phone with bigpond now, trying to sort this out.

 

[tiger_nick]

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