Georgia lost by 30-34 to Portugal in the opening game of 
ENC 2003, on Sunday, 16th February, at Jamor (Lisbon). The Lobos
scored winning try in injury time after a backline movement and 
duly converted it 

   It was a see-saw type of game. The lead changed hands several
times. Albeit the Lelos outscored the Lobos by 4 tries to 3, the 
kicking prowess of Portuguese fullback Malheiro turned to be a 
decisive factor

   GEO flyhalf Jimsheladze broke a career duck and scored his first 
drop-goal in internationals, thus extending the lead to 8 pts 
during the second quarter. From the outset the Lobos led by 8-0 but 
then GEO responded with three first-half tries and was in front by 
23-21 at turnaround

   After the interval POR kicked P and GEO responded thru winger 
Katsadze's second try of the afternoon making the score 30-24. At 
this stage GEO scrumhalf Abusseridze went off injured and the Welsh 
ref ruled out two GEO tries (held-up in in-goal & obstuction 
while chasing a chip-kick). On first instance he even applied for 
TMO assistance and discovered that the game was not televised 
after all

   In closing moments POR reduced the gap via P, and then scored 
out-wide after a sustained pressure whilst GEO young centre, 
I.Guiorgadze was in the sin-bin for killing down the ruck ball 

   GEORGIA : 30 pts

   (15-9) Khamashuridze, Urjukashvili, Zibzibadze, I.Guiorgadze 
(sin-binned), Katsadze; Jimsheladze, Abusseridze (Kvirikashvili) /

   (1-8) Shvelidze, A.Guiorgadze, Ratianidze (Nikolaenko); 
Didebulidze, Mtchedlishvili; Chkhaidze (Bolghashvili), 
Yachvili (Gundishvili as centre), Zedguinidze CAPT 

   (Unused subs) Khekhelashvili (winger), Khinchagashvili (hooker),
Matiashvili (second row)

   4T: Katsadze 2, Zedguinidze, Abusseridze; 2C, P, DG: Jimsheladze

   PORTUGAL : 34 pts   

   3T: Gonc'alves, Dav.Mateus, Dio.Matues; 2C, 5P: Malheiro

   Scoring sequence (GEO first): 0-3, 0-8, 5-8, 10-8, 13-8, 13-15,
20-15, 23-15 DG, 23-18, 23-21 (HT); 23-24, 30-24, 30-34 (FT)

Courtesy of Bidzina Gueguidze, 
Georgia RU President