Georgia sizzle in icy Siberia

Editor 13 Apr 2008 1:10 PM

Georgia are just one win away from the European Nations Cup title after recording a gruelling 18-12 victory over Russia in Siberia on Saturday.

Georgia are just one win away from the European Nations Cup title after recording a gruelling 18-12 victory over Russia in Siberia on Saturday.

The championship – commonly referred to as the 'Six Nations B' – is played home and away over two years, and Georgia have just one match to play, against Spain at home on April 24.

The win in icy Krasnoyarsk saw the Lelos leapfrog their hosts in the overall standings to lead on 25 points. Russia now trail Georgia by two tournament points and travel to the Czech Republic on Saturday for their last game.

Romania have played their ten games and sit third in the table on 22 points. Portugal, in fourth, can't catch them; they sit fourth on 15 points with one game to play. Spain (14) are third but have two games remaining, and the Czech Republic prop up the table on nine points from nine games.

Georgia's meeting with Russia was delayed for 40 minutes while the snow was cleared and the lines babbled with red paint.

The conditions played their part in proceedings with just two tries scored – both by Georgia, one in each half.

Rati Urushadze notched up the first after eight minutes, reaching out in a tackle to scored under the posts.

Otar Barkalaia converted and added a penalty for a tackle infringement after 20 minutes.

Russia fly-half Yuri Kushnariov, who had missed an earlier kick at goal, then goaled a penalty on 23 minutes and then again on 37 minutes after a big brawl that ended with flanks George Chkhaidze and Andrei Ostrikov in the sin-bin.

Penalties were then traded to leave the score poised enticingly at 13-12 with 12 minutes to play, but Georgia centre David Katcharava sealed the deal with a try in the 73rd minute.

News of the famous victory soon reached Tbilisi, and Lado Gurgenidze, prime minister of Georgia and big rugby fan, announced that he would award the side GEL100,000 ($69,100) for their efforts.

The scorers:

For Georgia:
Tries: Urushadze, Katcharava
Con: Barkalaia
Pens: Barkalaia 2

For Russia:
Pens: Kushnariov 4

The teams:

Georgia: 15 Otar Barkalaia, 14 Sandro Todua, 13 David Katcharava, 12 Rezo Guigauri, 11 Irakli Chkhikvadze, 10 Lasha Malaghuradze, 9 Irakli Abusseridze (c), 8 Dimitri Bassilaia, 7 Rati Urushadze, 6 George Chkhaidze, 5 Mamuka Gorgodze, 4 Kakhaber Uchav, 3 David Kubriashvili, 2 Irakli Natriashvili, 1 Goderdzi Shvelidze.
Replacements: 16 Simon Maissuradze, 17 David Dadunashvili, 18 George Nemsadze, 19 Shalva Sutiashvili, 20 Bidzina Samkharadze, 21 Merab Kvirikashvili, 22 George Shkinini.

Russia: 15 Igor Kliuchnikov, 14 Andrei Kuzin (c), 11 Alex Gvozdovski, 13 Igor Galinovski, 12 Victor Gresev, 10 Yuri Kushnariov, 9 Alex Shakirov, 8 Alex Panasenko, 7 Andrei Garbuzov, 6 Andrei Ostrikov, 5 Cyril Kuliomin, 4 Valeri Fedchenko, 3 Alex Chernishov, 2 Vladislav Korshunov, 1 Alex Khrokin.
Replacements: 16 Vladimir Marchenko, 17 Vladimir Botvinnikov, 18 Eugene Matveev, 19 Viacheslav Grachov, 20 Victor Motorin, 21 Mikhail Babaev, 22 Serguei Trishin.

Uncategorized