6NB: Georgia, Portugal in important wins
Georgia and Portugal took a step closer to realising their ambitions when they beat Russia and Romania in European Nations Cup matches over the weekend.
Both were close-fought encounters. Georgia were sitting pretty but the Russians fought back and eventually the Lelos won 29-21.
Portugal needed a last-minute try to beat Romania by a point in Bucharest.
All is not nearly lost for the Russians who play winless Germany this weekend to complete the first half of a competition played over two years.
The log at present in which Russia and Germany have played four matches each, the others five each.
1 Georgia 14
2 Portugal 12
3 Russia 10
4 Romania 9
5 Spain 7
6 Germany 4
Match details
Georgia vs Russia, 29-21
Russia scored first when Yuri Kushnarev goaled a penalty but well into the second half Georgia led 24-6 as the Lelos dominated proceedings. But then the great fightback of the Russians got under way till the Georgians,, incomprehensibly, were hanging on at 24-21. At the death Machkhaneli scored for Georgia.
Scorers:
For Georgia:
Tries: Malaghuradze, Labadze, Urjukashvili, Khinchagishvili, Machkhaneli
Cons: Kvirikashvili 2
For Russia:
Tries: Gvozdovskiy 2
Con: Kushnarev
Pens: Kushnarev 3
Teams
Georgia: 15 Merab Kvirikashvili, 14 Irakli Machkhaneli, 13 David Katcharava (, Russia), 12 Irakli Guiorgadze, 11 Malkhaz Urjukashvili, 10 Lasha Malaghuradze, 9 Irakli Abusseridze (captain), 8 Mamuka Gorgodze, 7 George Chkhaidze, 6 Grigol Labadze, 5 Ilia Zedguinidze, 4 Levan Datunashvili, 3 Goderdzi Shvelidze, 2 Irakli Natriashvili, 1 David Khinchaguishvili_
Replacements: 16 Anton Peikrishvili, 17 David Kubriashvili, 18 Rati Urushadze, 19 Dimitri Bassilaia, 20 Bidzina Samkharadze, 21 Sandro Todua, 22 Otar Barkalaia
Russia squad: Vasily Artemiev, Mikhail Babaev, Igor Kluchnikov, Andrey Kuzin, Yury Kushnarev, Viktor Motorin, Sergey Trishin, Alexander Shakirov, Alexander Yanushkin, Alexander Gvozdovsky, Alexander Gerasimov, Alexander Voytov, Vladislav Korshunov, Kiril Koulemine, Eugeny Matveev, Nikita Medkov, Andrey Ostrikov, Alexey Panasenko, Ivan Prishepenko, Eugeny Pronenko, Alexey Travkin, Artem Fatakhov, Alexander Khrokin
Referee: Didier Mene (France)
Touch judges: Cédric Marchat, Laurent Cardona
Portugal vs Romania, 22-21
Portugal made history when for the first time ever they beat Romania in Romania.
Portugal’s coach Tomaz Morais, once of the Cascais club, is a fitness enthusiast and fitness paid for the lighter Portuguese after Romania had led 15-6 at half-time. Then down 21-6 after 76 minutes the Lobos attacked for the final four minutes plus injury time. The boot of Pedro Cabral got them to 21-15 till the very last movement of the match when the pack drove at the bigger Romanians and replacement Juan Severino scored. 21-20. Pedro Cabral converted for a one-point victory of great importance to Portuguese ambitions.
Scorers:
For Romania:
Tries: Fercu, Manta
Con: Mitu
Pens: Mitu 3
For Portugal:
Tries: Severino
Con: Cabral
Pens: Cabral 5
Teams
Romania: 15 Catalin Nicolae, 14 Catalin Fercu, 13 Adrian Barbuliceanu, 12 Ionut Dimofte, 11 Stefan Ciuntu, 10 Razvan Stanca, 9 Petre Mitu, 8 Alexandru Manta, 7 Stelian Burcea (captain), 6 Florin Corodeanu, 5 Cristian Petre, 4 Alin Coste, 3 Ion Paulica, 2 Catalin Beca, 1 Nicolae Nere
Replacements: 16 Florin Tasca, 17 Mihai Adascalitei, 18 Cosmin Ratiu,19 Daniel Carpo, 20 Valentin Calafeteanu, 21 Csaba Gal, 22 Florian Vlaicu
Portugal: 15 Antonio Aguilar, 14 David Mateus, 13 Pedro Silva, 12 Diogo Mateus, 11 Gonçalo Foro, 10 Pedro Cabral, 9 José Pinto, 8 Tiago Girão, 7 João Uva, 6 Vasco Uva, 5 Eduardo Acosta, 4 David Penalva, 3 Ruben Spachuck, 2 João Correia, 1 Juan Murre
Replacements: 16 João Junior, 17 Juan Severino, 18 Julian Bardi, 19 Diogo Gama, 20 Salvador Palha, 21 Aderito Esteves, 22 Pedro Leal
Referee: Philippe Bonhoure (France)
Touch judges: Akim Hadj Bachir, Thierry Laur
