"Lokomotive" Tbilisi became champion of the 22nd Georgian Rugby Championship. "Lokomotive" beat "Lelo" 16:11 and returned "Willow Cup".
"Lokomotive" and "Lelo" held a match against each other after a year. In the final of the championship these teams played against each other for the first time in 2008. "Lokomotive" won that match. Since then, these teams held 10 matches against each other at the country's championship, playoff and Cup. The match was traditionally tense, full of emotions. The team which had prepared well won the match.
The match started with advantage of "Lelo". After that, Mchedlishvili missed conversion. At the 8th minute, "Lokomotive" won a right to take a penalty. Boba Kvinikhidze took the penalty from 45 meters and opened the score.
At the 15th minute, "Lelo" tried to score a conversion but Kiasashvili missed it. Though, Mchedlishvili ("Lelo") restored balance. Till the middle of the half, "Lelo" was on the field of its opponent but did nothing special. Kvinikhidze advanced "Lokomotive" 6:3 from 42 meters.
The first attack of Jamutashvili finished without result. Then Kvinikhidze missed conversion. After that, Gvinjilia assisted Jamutashvili and he scored a try. Kvinikhidze scored conversion. In spite of the attempts of Kiasashvili and Kolelishvili, the score did not change till the break - 13:3.
"Lelo" played actively in the second half. Though, "Lokomotive" played devotedly. At the 45th minute, Mchedlishvili missed the penalty. Kvinikhidze returned a 10-point advantage to the team in three minutes when he scored a penalty from a long distance. At the 57th minute, Kacharava assisted Lekso Gugava and he equalized the score with tries but Mchedlishvili missed conversion.
"Lelo" attacked its opponent to score a try but "Lokomotive" played perfectly in defence. "Lokomotive" made mistakes in attacks but former champion did not use it. At the 63rd minute, Mchedlishvili missed a penalty. If not this case, the final result might have been different. "Lelo" had to play with another tactics but it did no good to the team. Referee sin-binned Zviad Maisuradze and "Lokomotive" played with 14 players during 4-5 minutes.
So, "Lokomotive" won the championship for the 7th time and finished a 9-match lost series with "Lelo".
"Lelo" took the 2nd place this time but the team still remains as a main candidate to win the next championship.
XXII Georgian National Rugby Championship
November 14. Monday. Final
Tbilisi. "Mikheil Meskhi". 3000
Lokomotive (Tbilisi) - Lelo (Tbilisi) 16:11 (13:3)
Lokomotive: 15. Koberidze, 14. Kavtaradze (Asatiani 80), 13. Khutsishvili, 12. Berdzenishvili, 11. Jamutashvili, 10. Kvinikhidze, 9. Gvinjilia; 1. Eloshvili, 2. Genebashvili (Zaridze 70), 3. Petriashvili, 4. Nishnianidze (Akhvlediani 76), 5. Gujaraidze (Korkotadze 67), 6. Berishvili, 7. Chitidze (Ozgebashvili 60), 8. Z. Maisuradze.
Try: Jamutashvili
Conversion: Kvinikhidze
3 penalties: Kvinikhidze
Lelo: 15. Kiasashvili, 14. Joglidze, 13. Korkelia, 12. Lominadze, 11. Gugava, 10. Mchedlishvili, 9. Kacharava; 1. Sanikidze, 2. Chkonia, 3. Sujashvili, 4. Azaladze, 5. Jalagonia (Khorbaladze 37), 6. Kolelishvili (I. Maisuradze 41), 7. Daushvili, 8. Chkoidze.
1 try: Gugava
2 penalties: Mchedlishvili


Zura Ksovreli