European Nations Cup - 26 February

Portugal still on track

The titleholders won their third match in the European Nations Cup to stay unbeaten and on course for a another title, though the mighty Oaks are still ahead.

Portugal vs Czech Republic, 19-13

Portugal did not have it all their own way in beating the Czech Republic 19-13 at the Estádio Eng. Vasco Pinto de Magalhães on 26 February 2005.

Portugal scored first and were never headed. Fullback Gonçalo Malheiro scored the first try after eight minutes, which he converted himself.

With six minutes left to half time the Czech backs scored.

That made it 7-5 at half-time.

Early in the second half left-wing Pedro Carvalho scored. This was followed by a penalty try, converted by replacement Pedro Leal.

Half way through the half the Czechs goaled a penalty and with five minutes to go they scored a second try.

Scorers:

For Portugal:
Tries: Malheiro, Carvalho, penalty try
Con: Malheiro, Leal

For Czech Republic:
Tries: 2
Pen: 1

Teams:

Portugal: 15 Gonçalo Malheiro (Madrid 2012), 14 Miguel Portela (Direito), 13 Diogo Mateus (Belenenses), 12 Frederico Sousa (Direito), 11 Pedro Carvalho (Direito), 10 Martim Tomé (Direito), 9 Luís Pissarra (Agronomia) (captain), 8 Vasco Uva (Direito), 7 Diogo Coutinho (Direito), 6 Paulo Murinello (CDUL), 5 Lourenço  Andrade (Belenenses), 4 Marcello D"Orey (CDUP), 3 Joaquim Ferreira (CDUP), 2 Miguel Moura (Benfica), 1 João Correia (Direito)
Replacements: 16 Paulo Santos (Belenenses), 17 Cristian Spachuk (Belenenses), 18 Gonçalo Uva (Direito), 19  Antonio Cumshawe (Belenenses), 20 Sebastião Cumshawe (Belenenses), 21 Nuno Garvão (Belenenses), 22 Pedro Leal (Direito)

Czech Republic squad:

Forwards: Jirí  Skall (Sparta Praha), Lukáa Rapant (St Nazaire, France), Roman `uster (St Nazaire, France), Jan Kubálek (Rícany), Jan Oswald (Tatra Smíchov), Pavel `tastný (L´Isle Jourdain, France), Robert Voves (St Nazaire, France), Miroslav Nemecek (Bracknell, England), Josef Weber (Dragon Brno), Patrik Leroch (Havírov), Ladislav Vondraaek (captain) (Bracknell, England), Vlastimil Madry(Praga).

Backs: Pavel Syrový (Praga), Vítezslav Dosedla (Dragon Brno), Martin Kafka (Métro-Racing, France), Antonín Brabec (Tatra Smíchov), Martin Pekárek (Rícany), Jaroslav Tomcik (Havírov), Michal Schlanger (Petrovice), Jan Rohlík (St Nazaire, France), Martin Jágr (Toulon, France), Tomáa Krejcí (St Saturnin, France).

Referee: Johnny Meersman (Belgium)

Romania vs Russia, 33-10

The old rivals played at the UMT Stadion in the ancient city of Timisoara in Western Romania near the borders with Yugoslavia and Hungary, the city where the rebellion against the dictator Ceaucescu started.Romania won the match comfortably enough though at half time the Oaks led only 13-10.

It took the Oaks just over five minutes to get on the scoreboard when Ioan Teodorescu scored a try. Flyhalf Ionut Tofan made it 8-0 with a penalty. The Russians fought back and Maxim Uskov scored a try, converted by Sergey Sugrobov. 8-7 after 17 minutes.

Razvan Mavrodin then got a try for Romania but a penalty goal by Sugrobov made it 13-10 after 26 minutes. There was no more scoring in the half.

In the sceond half first Ovidiu Tonita and then Cristian Sauan scored tries to make it 23-10. With 25 minutes left, Teodorescu scored his second try. This time Danut Dumbrava did the kicking and converted the try. 30-10. He then kicked a penalty goal to make it 33-10.

Scorers:

For Romania:
Tries: Teodorescu 2, Mavrodin, Tonita, Sauan
Cons: Dumbrava
Pen: Tofan, Dumbrava

For Russia:
Try: Uskpov
Con: Sugrobov
Pen: Sugrobov

Teams:

Romania: 15 Danut Dumbrava 14 Cristian Sauan, 13 Gabriel Brezoianu, 12 Valentin Maftei, 11 Ioan Teodorescu,  10 Ionut Tofan, 9 Lucian Sirbu, 8 Ovidiu Tonita, 7 Alexandru Tudori, 6 Costica Mersoiu, 5 Cristian Petre, 4 Sorin Socol, (captain), 3 Marcel Socaciu, 2 Razvan Mavrodin,1 Cezar Popescu
Replacements: 16 Paulica Ion, 17 Bogdan Zebega, 18 Bogdan Balan, 19 George Oprisor, 20 Iulian Andrei, 21 Darie Curea, 22 Stefan Dumitru

Russia: 15 Dmitriy Loskutov (Penza) 14 Alexander Gvozdovskiy (Krasniy Yar) , 13 Oleg Kobzev (VVA-Podmoskovje), 12 Denis Akulov (Enisy-STM), 11 Maxim Uskov (Penza) 10 Sergey Sugrobov (Slava), 9 Alexander Shakirov (Enisey-STM) 7 Viatcheslav Grachev (Mongtauban, France), 8 Alexey Sarychev (Krasniy Yar), 6 Andrey Garbuzov (Krasniy Yar) 5 Alexander Voitov (VVA-Podmoskovje), 4 Andrey Lugin (Penza) 3 Alexey Travkin (VVA-Podmoskovje), 2 Roman Romak (Enisey-STM), 1 Oleg Shukaylov (Krasniy Yar)
Replacements: 16 Sergey Novoselov (Enisey-STM), 17 Alexander Khrokin (VVA-Podmoskovje), 18 Sergey Vasilev (Krasniy Yar), 19 Dmitriy Malyakin (Penza), 20 Andrey Bykanov (Slava), 21 Artem Lubkov (Krasniy Yar), 22 Alexander Kazantsev (VVA-Podmoskovje)

Referee: Didier Mene (France)

Georgia vs Ukraine, 65-0

It was an easy victory for the Lelos at the National Stadium in Tblisi.

Georgia, who led 24-0 at half-time, scored 11 tries in all, five of which were converted. Tedo Zibzibadze, the outside centre who had moved to the wing, scored two of the tries.

The Georgian pack was too strong. Five of the tries were scored from mauls after line-outs close to the Ukraine line.

Only in the last 20 minutes diode the Georgians bring their backs into play.

Luka Khachirashvili won his first cap for Georgia.

Scorers:

For Georgia:
Tries: Zibzibadze 2, Gugava, Zerakashvili, Urushadze, Guiorgadze, Katsadze, Maissuradze, Gorgodze, Urushadze, Kiknadze.
Cons: Barkalaia 2, Kiknadze 3

Teams:

Georgia: 15 Bessik Khamashuridze, 14 Lexo Gugava, 13 Tedo Zibzibadze, 12 Lasha Pirpilashvili, 11 Irakli Machkhaneli, 10 Otar Barkalaia, 9 Irakli Abusseridze, 8 Besso Udessiani, 7 Rati Urushadze, 6 Vassil Katsadze, 5 Ilia Zedguinidze (captain),  4 Mamuka Gorgodze, 3 David Zerakashvili, 2 Akvsenti Guiorgadze, 1 Michael Sujashvili
Replacements: 16 Levan Javelidze, 17 Avtandil Kopaliani, 18 Levan Datunashvili19 Zviad Maissuradze, 20 George Katcharava, 21 Luka Khachirashvili 22 David Kiknadze

Ukraine: 15 Andriy  Tyshchenko, 14 Oleh Kvasnytsya, 13 Iaroslav Pereguda, 12 Andriy Polosenko,11 Sergiy  Monastyrov,  10 Maksym Bilmovych,9 Maksym  Kravchenko, 8 Artur Martyrosyan,7 Vitalii  Zadvirnyi, 6 Sergiy Kureza,  5 Andriy Melnykov, 4 Volodymyr Koshelia,3 Sergiy Bubela, 2 Dmytro Krasnoshchok,1 Oleksandr Polyanskyy, 
Replacements: 16 Dmytro Levichev, 17 Oleksiy Zybalo, 18 Dmytro Fedishyn, 19 Vasyl Titov, 20 Valerii Maksiuk, 21  VolodymyrVadym Kolyshkin, 22 Cherednychenko.

Referee: Hervé Dubes (France)