11:09am Saturday 10th November 2007
By Mike Parsons
WOLVES and Wales skipper Lee Briers did all that he could to keep his country's 2008 World Cup dream alive but lacked sufficient quality around him as his men crashed 50-26 to Lebanon in the repechage eliminator at Widnes last night.
Briers, making his 18th cap, was the class act at the heart of all the Welsh tries, including one for fellow Wolf Andy Bracek, as Martin Hall's side built up 10-0 and 20-10 leads.
But Wales tired badly after taking the 20-10 lead three minutes into the second half and some awful defence aided the Cedars to run riot.
Had former Widnes centre Adam Hughes held Briers' accurate pass and scored to potentially put Wales 16-0 ahead in the opening quarter there may have been no way back for the tourists, who will next meet Samoa at Featherstone on Wednesday to decide the 10th and final qualifier for the World Cup finals next October.
But Lebanon kept chipping away and man of the match scrum half George Ndaira inspired them to some great flowing rugby after the break.
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