LELOS overcame brave Portugal

Sun, 17 February, 2002

ENC'2001 winners, LELOS of Georgia just scraped to 
their seventh consecutive win in RWC'2003 Classifying 
tourmament on Saturday, beating the hosts, Portugal by 
27-23 in Lisbon, at Jamor's national rugby compound

Georgia looked a little bit complacent from the start 
whilst Portugal was firing from all cylinders and 
scored two early, good-worked tries

First, flanker Goncalo Vareiro crashed through the 
Caucasians defense from the close range after a 
line-out and smart switch to the blind-side

Then Portugal spread the ball wide to the right and 
Antonio Aguilar dotted down, with Rohan Hoffmann 
converting * 12-0 POR

Lelos, playing WITH wind, were soon in contention 
through Badri Khekhelashvili's runaway try, but 
Portugal went further ahead when after a solo-dart 
from a forward Hoffmann cleverly miss-passed left to 
the supporting Paulo Goncalves * 17-7 POR

Then Lelos took control but the hosts stood firm for 
about ten minutes when Georgia were outdone by 
numerous turnovers and obstruction penalties close to 
the opposition goal-line

Nevertheless, Makho Urjukashvili cut loose on the left 
wing foolowed by Hoffmann's two medium-range PGs at 
either side of half-time * 23-12 POR

By this time Lelos already had subbed the scrum-half 
and both locks, and albeit they were now playing IN 
wind, ran riot with standout hooker Akvsenti 
Guoirgadze crossing the line twice after good handling 
and running of his wily friends * 24-23 GEO

From this point it became clear that the LELOS would 
have eventually won thanks to more skill and sheer 
strength and pace. The only question was 'by what 
margin'

But the visitors unwisely persisted with playing 
catch-up, high-risk rugby instead of going for the 
kill, and the Portuguese got a chance to turn the tide 
when both Georgian sub-locks were sent to the cooler 
midway through the final quarter

Georgia must thank the Lord for Hoffmann missed from 
20 metres out at the crucial point. From the restart 
Urjukashvili and Guiorgadze cut loose, the attack was 
stopped near the goal-line but Makho kicked PG from in 
front * 27-23 GEO

But Portugal was not finished yet. Wing Nuno Garvao 
was stopped by eightman Zurab Mtchedlishvili in a 
desparate tackle, and a backline attack was aptly 
turned over by reliable centre Tedo Zibzibadze

Finally, Guiorgadze once again cut through and flanker 
David Bolghashvili was stopped at the line, but 
Urjukashvili replied in kind to Hoffmann and missed a 
sitter

All in all, creditable performance from Portugal and 
a timely wake-up call for Georgia, who hosts the 
arch-rival Russia in fortnight, on Sunday, 3 March, in 
Tbilissi

>>>   PORTUGAL... 23, GEORGIA... 27

Halftime: POR 20-12

Scorers:

POR - 3T: Vareiro #7, Aguilar #11, Goncalves #8
      C, 2P: Hoffmann #15

GEO - 4T: Khekhelashvili, Urjukashvili, Guiorgadze 2
      2C: Jimsheladze
      P: Urjukashvili

Sin Bins: GEO - Magrakvelidze, Ratianidze

Chronology (POR first):

5-0 (5 min), 12-0 (9), 12-7 (11), 17-7 (20), 17-12 (35),
20-12 (39), half-time;

23-12 (47), 23-19 (49), 23-24 (51),

First sinbin (63), Second sinbin (69), Hoffmann missed
sitter (70),

23-27 (75),

Guiorgadze & Bolghashvili were stopped just short, but
Urjukashvili missed sitter as well (82)

GEO put attacking P into corner = Full-time (84)

>>> Georgia:

15 Khamashuridze, 11 Urjukashvili (#14 on shirt), 14
Khekhelashvili (#11)

13 Zibzibadze, 12 Katsadze (Alania #16), 10
Jimsheladze

9 Abusseridze (Modebadze #17)

1 Mtiulishvili, 2 Guiorgadze, 3 Tsabadze CAPT

4 Nadiradze (Magrakvelidze #19), 5 Didebulidze
(Ratianidze #18)

6 Bolghashvili, 7 Labadze, 8 Mtchedlishvili

Unused subs: Shvelidze (front row), Zedguinidze (No
8), Iovadze (utility back)

TV SOURCE: 'RTP Internacional'