6NB: Russia march on
Russia’s victory over Spain in Madrid has almost guaranteed them a place the final tournament of the World Cup for the first time.
The European Nations Cup, division 1, is played over two years and this is the second year. The two countries that end top of the log will go to New Zealand and the country coming third gets another crack at the World Cup through répechage.
Spain’s challenge is virtually over. Their progress will depend on other countries’ failing unexpectedly.
Results, Round 7:
Russia vs Spain, 38-20 in Madrid
Georgia vs Portugal, 16-10 in Lisbon
Romania vs Germany, 67-5 in Constanze
Log after Round 7
Spain and Romania have a match in hand after their 6th Round match in Bucharest was postponed on account of the weather. The other countries have all played seven matches.
1 Georgia 20
2 Russia 19
3 Portugal 14
4 Romania 12
5 Spain 8
6 Germany 7
Matches to come:
Round 8, 27 February 2010
Russia vs Romania
Germany vs Portugal
Georgia vs Spain
Round 9, 13 March 2010
Romania vs Georgia
Spain vs Portugal
Russia vs Germany
Round 10, 20 March 2010
Germany vs Spain
Georgia vs Russia
Portugal vs Romania
Georgia vs Portugal
It was tough going in Lisbon.
At half-time Georgia led 10-7.
Scorers:
For Georgia:
Try: Abusseridze
Con: Kvirikashvili
Pens: Kvirikashvili 2
drop: Malaghuradze
For Portugal:
Try: Gardner
Con: Cabral
Pen: Gardner
Teams
Portugal: 15 Joe Gardener, 14 Frederico Oliveira, 13 Pedro Silva, 12 Diogo Mateus, 11 Antonio Aguilar, 10 Pedro Cabral, 9 José Pinto, 8 Juan Severino, 7 Salvador Palha, 6 Vasco Uva, 5 David Penalva, 4 Conrad Stickling, 3 Juan Murre, 2 João Correia (captain), 1 Francisco Fernandes
Replacements: 16 João Junior, 17 Lionel Campergue (Pau), 18 Gonçalo Uva, 19 Eduardo Acosta, 20 Pedro Leal, 21 David Mateus, 22 Gonçalo Foro
Georgia: 15 Merab Kvirikashvili, 14 Malkhaz Urjukashvili, 13 Davit Katcharava, 12 Tedo Zibzibadze, 11 Irakli Machkhaneli, 10 Lasha Malaghuradze, 9 Irakli Abuseridze (captain), 8 Besarion Udesiani, 7 Giorgi Chkhaidze Montpellier, 6 Grigol Labadze, 5 Ilia Zedginidze, 4 Giorgi Nemsadze, 3 Davit Zirakashvili, 2 Akvsent Giorgadze, 1 Davit Khinchagishvili
Replacements: 16 Anton Peikrishvili, 17 Davit Kubriashvili, 18 Levan Datunashvili, 19 Lasha Tavartkiladze, 20 Bidzina Samkharadze, 21 Irakli Giorgadze, 22 Alexandre Todua
Referee: Andrew Small (England)
Assistant referees: Tim Wigglesworth (England), Roger Baileff (England)
Russia vs Spain
It was only in the last quarter of the match that the fitter Russians, who have ben preparing in South Africa, made sure of the game. At one stage the score was just 14-13 to Russia but Russia then goaled two penalties top lead 20-13 at half time.
In the second half Russia kicked a penalty by then Ignacio Martín scored under the posts and it was 23-20. But a [penalty and a converted try eased Russia ahead and then just before the end their scored their final try.
For Spain there were debut appearances for Martin Heredia, David Gurgenadze and Matthew Cook.
Scorers:
For Spain:
Tries: Gratton, Ignacio Martín
Cons: Gratton 2
Pens: Gratton 2
For Russia:
Tries: Gresev, Yuchnikovty, Kushnarev, Yanyushkin
Cons: Kushnarev 3
Pens: Kushnarev 4
Teams
Spain: 15 Cesar Sempere, 14 Ignacio Martín, 13 Martín Heredia, 12 Javier Canosa, 11 Pablo Feijóo, 10 Mathieu Gratton, 9 Mathieu Lopez, 8 Julien Tourtoulou, 7 Damien Elgohyen, 6 Rafael Camacho, 5 Leandro Fernandez-Aramburu, 4 Sergio Souto, 3 Jesús Moreno, 2 Mathieu Cidre, 1 Marco Pinto.
Replacements: 16 José-Maria Bohorquez, 17 David Gurgenadze, 18 Jesus Recuerda, 19 Matthew Cook, 20 Benjamin Pardo, 21 Jaime Nava, 22 Martin Aceña
Russia: 15 Igor Kluchnikov, 14 Vasily Artemiev, 13 Mikhail Babaev, 12 Sergey Trishin, 11 Alexander Gvozdovskiy, 10 Yuriy Kushnarev, 9 Alexander Yanushkin, 8 Andrey Temnov, 7 Andrey Ostrikov, 6 Victor Gresev, 5 Kiril Kulemin, 4 Alexander Voytov, 3 Evgeny Pronenko, 2 Vladislav Korshunov (captain), 1 Carlo Maglakelidze,
Replacements: 16 Evgeny Matveev, 17 Khrokin Alexander, 18 Alexey Travkin, 19 Artem Fatakhov, 20 Alexander Shakirov, 21 Alexey Korobeynikov, 22 Andrey Kuzin
Referee : Tim Hayes (Wales)
Assistant referees: Wayne Davies (Wales), Greg Morgan (Wales)
Romania vs Germany in Constanza
Poor Germany – they are the whipping boys. Not even bad weather or the appalling condition of the pitch could save them.
The score at half-time was 20-5 – four tries to one.
Scorers:
For Romania:
Tries: Botezatu, AN Other, Sirbu, Carpo 2, Tonita, Calafeteanu, Dima, Ciuntu, Zebega, Dumitras,,
Cons: Vlaicu 3, Calafeteanu 3
For Germany:
Try: Sztyndera
Romania: 15 Iulian Dumitras, 14 Ionut Botezatu, 13 Ionut Dimofte, 12 Robert Dascalu, 11 Catalin Fercu, 10 Florin Vlaicu, 9 Lucian Sarbu, 8 Mihai Macovei, 7 Ovidiu Tonita, 6 Stelian Burcea, 5 Cristian Petre, 4 Sorin Socol (captain), 3 Silviu Florea, 2 Marius Tincu, 1 Bogdan Balan
Replacements: 16 Paulica Ion, 17 Bogdan Zebega, 18 Valentin Ursache, 19 Daniel Carpo, 20 Valentin Calafeteanu, 21 Stefan Ciuntu, 22 Constantin Gheara, 23 Dragos Dima
Germany: 15 Rafael Pyrasch, 14 Robert Mohr, 13 Alexander Metz, 12 Ghristopher Liebig, 11 Steffen Liebig, 10 Benjamin Krause, 9 Ben Houston Jamie, 8 Lukas Hinds-Johnson, 7 Alexander Hauck, 6 Raphael Hackl, 5 Mustafa Gungor (captain), 4 Rob Elloway, 3 Kieron Davies, 2 Tim Coly, 1 Kehoma Brenner
Replacements: 16 Benjamin Simm, 17 Mark Sztynder, 18 Edmoore Takaendesa, 19 Marcus Trick, 20 Clemens von Grumbkow, 21 Alexander Widiker, 22 Manuel Wilhelm
Referee : Claudio Passacantando (Italy)
Assistant referees: Domenico Sironi (Italy), Francesco Commone (Italy)
