Davit Kubriashvili, rugby player of “Toulon” and Georgian national rugby union team, will play in final of “Amlin Challenge Cup” which will be held on May 18. “Brive”, another team of Georgian legionaries, lost semifinal match. So, “Toulon” will play against “Biarritz”.
In semifinal of “Challenge Cup” only French teams went through in semifinal of “Challenge Cup”. “Toulon” played against “Stade Francais” in front of 12404 spectators. The match turned out tense and conversion of Jonny Wilkinson of England decided the fate of it 45 seconds before the final whistle. Hero of World Cup 2003 was a real hero on that day. Wilkinson scored 2 conversion and 7 penalties. As for Georgian Kubriashvili, he was in the main staff and spent 49 minutes on the field.
At the first minute of the match, the hosts advanced with try of Steffon Armitage but at the 12th minute they were scored try. “Stade Francais” advanced after conversion.
Before the 26th minute, “Stade Francais” scored two penalties and one conversion and advanced 16:5. Before break, the hosts managed to score 2 penalties though were scored one and the half ended 11:19.
“Toulon” gained advantage in the first 15 minutes of the second half. Wilkinson scored 3 penalties and one conversion – 23:19. But the guests scored the second try, conversion and gained advantage again (23:26).
Wilkinson advanced his team with 2 penalties by the 67th minute. “Stade Francais” restored balance in two minutes. But Jonny saved his team with conversion.
In the second semifinal match, “Brive” of Davit Khinchagishvili, Vasil Kokovin and Iuri Natriashvili played against “Biarritz” but could do nothing. 9 000 spectators attended the match and the guests could not earn a point. Dimitri Iashvili who has Georgian roots and plays for French national rugby union team scored 2 penalties in the first half. After the try of Damien Traille, Iashvili scored conversion.
In the second half Iashvili scored two penalties and “Biarritz” won 19:0. Only Natriashvili was in the list from Georgian legionaries. He was substituted at the 56th minute.
Zura Ksovreli
