Portugal beat Georgia in fierce tie

Romanian match to decide championship

Portugal beat Georgia 18-14 in Lisbon on Saturday, retaining their unbeaten status in the European Nations Cup, the 'Six Nations B'.

Portugal are the title-holders but Georgia, most of whose players play in France, are serious contenders.

This sets up a big finale to the championship in Bucharest on 11 June.

Georgia wore black armbands out of respect for their prime minister Zurab Jvania who had died. They scored first but Portugal led 11-3 at half-time. Georgia led 14-11 with eight minutes to go but in injury time Portugal ran from their own line and Frederico Sousa scored the winner. This provoked mass fighting, during which the Portuguese coach Tomaz Morais ran onto the field. Lekso Gugava of Georgia was sent off.

Earlier in the match the tries had been scored by tighthead props - Joaquim Ferreira for Portugal and, from a pushover try, Goderdzi Shvelidze for Georgia. The Georgian pack, even despite losing both locks to knee injuries, was stronger than that of their opponents but the Portuguese backs were much better than the Georgians in skill and speed.

Shvelidze's try brought the Lelos level with the Lobos and then veteran fullback Makho Urjukashvili kicked the penalty which put his side ahead.

So far in the ENC, Portugal have beaten Ukraine and Georgia, Georgia have beaten Russia and Romania have beaten Czech Republic.

Scorers:

For Portugal:
Tries: Joaquim Ferreira, Frederico Sousa
Con: Gonçalo Malheiro
Pens: Martin Tomé, Gonçalo Malheiro

For Georgia:
Try: Shvelidze
Pens: Urjukashvili 2
Drop: Kiknadze

Teams:

Portugal:15 Gonçalo Malheiro, 11 Pedro Carvalho, 14 Miguel Portela 13 Diogo Mateus, 12 Frederico Sousa, 10 Martim Tome 9 Luis Pissarra (captain), 8 Vasco Uva, 7 Paulo Murinello, 6 Antonio Cunha, 4 Lourenco Andrade, 5 Marcello Dorey, 3 Joaquim Ferreira, 2 Miguel Moura, 1 Joao Correia
Replacements: 16 Jose Sequeira, 17 Diogo Coutinho, 18 Cristian Spachuck, 19 Goncalo Uva, 20 Pedro Leal, 21 Sebastiao Cunha, 22 Nuno Garvao

Georgia: 15 Makho Urjukashvili, 14 Bessik Khamashuridze 13 Tedo Zibzibadze 12 Irakli Guiorgadze, 11 Irakli Machkhaneli, 10 David Kiknadze, 9 Irakli Abusseridze, 8 Besso Udessiani, 7 Rati Urushadze, 6 Ilia Zedguinidze (captain), 5 Victor Didebulidze, 4 Zurab Mtchedlishvili, 3 Goderdzi Shvelidze, 2 Akvsenti Guiorgadze, 1 Mamuka Magrakvelidze
Replacements: 16 Michael Sujashvili, 17 David Ashvetia, 18 Levan Datunashvili, 19 Mamuka Gorgodze, 20 George Katcharava, 21 Otar Barkalaia, 22 Lekso Gugava

Referee: Carlo Damasco (Italy)
Touch judges: Salvatore De Falco, Alberto Bruzzone (both Italy)