Georgian National U-18 Rugby Team took the third place at European U-18 Championship, which was underway in France. After winning over Russian and German Teams “The Lelos” proved that they can show better results in the future.
In quarter final the rival of “The Lelos” was Italy, which had big advantages in the first half – 29:3 but in the second half Georgian sportsmen did their best and decreased point difference, but in spite of this finally they lost – 16:36.
Last year Georgian team took the third place and their goal was not to regress this year. “The Lelos” managed to repeat their previous result again. “The Lelos” showed big resistance against Russian and German teams, managed to beat them and proved that rugby is being developed in correct way in Georgia and it needs help from Georgia as well as from international organizations (FIRA, IRB)…
Levan Mgeladze head coach of Georgian U-18 Team made three changes against Germany. There was not any change in back line. In the first line Lomtadze was changed with Khidesheli, Mardaleishvili played in the second line and in stead of him Sukhishvili played in the third line. Georgians attacked in the first seconds and Khutsishvili scored at the 5th minutes.
For some period Germen activated and approached Georgian penalty area, but they did not kick drop kicks in direction of goal. Georgian defenders played well. At the 20th minutes Sharikadze scored try and Khutsishvili realized well. In five minutes Akhobadze scored try, Khutsishvili again realized well – 21:0. One of the German players was sinbinned, Georgian team used it and scored two tries (Mardaleishvili, Basilaia). Khutsishvili again realized well. “The Lelos” won the first half 33:0. The second half was more quite than the first one. At the 50th minutes Basilaia scored try again and realization was also correct.
Final match was tense and interesting. Italy scored two tries against Scotland, but in spite of this lost. Scotland managed to score one try, but they scored drop kicks and won on expense of it – 17:12. Portugal took the fifth place, it won over Belgium 10:5. The match between Romania and Russia was very tense and interesting. Romania managed to beat Russia – 11:3. As a result Romania took the 7th place. France won over Sweden – 47:7 and replaced Russia.
European U-18 Rugby Union Championship
First Division. France (Tarb, Oshi)
April 23
For the 3rd place
Georgia- Germany 40:0
Georgia: 15. Giorgi Aptsiauri(Saba Nikolava 62), 14. Murtaz Giorgadze (Giorgi Natelashvili 65), 13. Tamaz Mchedlidze, 12. Merab Sharikadze, 11. Giorgi Pruidze, 10. Giorgi Basilaia, 9. Vaja Khutsishvili (Zurab Tutberidze 65); 1. Giorgi Tetrashvili (Rati Asatiani 61), 2. Davit Khidesheli (Giorgi Lomtadze 39), 3. Vakhtang Akhobadze (Tornike Jibladze 61), 4. Giorgi Sordia, 5. Nodar Mardaleishvili, 6. Saba Shubitidze, 7. Tamaz Olkiashvili (Lasha Moseshvili 45), 8. Nikoloz Sukhishvili.
6 tries: Khutsishvili, Sharikadze, Akhobadze, Mardaleishvili, Basilaia (2)
5 realization: Khutsishvili
For the 7th place
Romania - Russia 11:3
For the 5th place
Belgium - Portugal 5:10
Final
Scotland - Italy 17:12
Zura Ksovreli
