Gorgadze hat trick leads Georgia past Uruguay

Three tries from loose forward Beka Gorgadze propelled Georgia to a 34-18 win over Uruguay on Sunday. Turnovers while in possession cost Los Teros several chances to score as the two World Cup opponents renewed acquaintances in Tbilisi.

It was Uruguay who had the game’s first points through the boot of Felipe Berchesi, but Georgia soon took command. Tedo Abzhandadze matched Berchesi’s effort and then Gorgadze powered over on the short side from the back of a ruck. The conversion from wide out was good to make it 10-3 to the Lelos.

A deliberate knock-on earned a yellow card for Felipe Etcheverry. Seconds later Georgia would have their second try, again through Gorgadze and this time from a driving maul. Abzhandadze was again accurate from near the sideline with the conversion.

Just before Echeverry returned, Los Teros would get a try via the forwards. A maul broke up and Guillermo Pujadas slipped through the middle, falling over the line for five points. Berchesi made it seven, then knocked over a penalty goal to close the gap to just four points.

A turnover deep in their own end sparked a breakout for the Lelos. Akaki Tabutsadze tore up the right side. The ball was recycled and Davit Niniashvili again found Abutsadze in space, this time the winger popping out of a tackle for Gorgadze to grab his hat trick. Like clockwork Abzhandadze knocked over the extra two from the corner to make it 24-13 to the home side at the half.

It was Gorgadze again at the center of Georgia’s next score. Early in the second half the flanker broke through the line and connected with Abzhandadze. Soon after Guram Papidze crossed from close range with the extras making it a three-score game.

Abzhandadze was singled out for the same offense as Etcheverry earlier and was sent to the sin bin. Shortly after his return Rodrigo Silva went over in the corner for a second Uruguayan try. From the restart a penalty gave Abzhandadze another successful kick at goal. Georgia would press one last time but the game would end with no further points scored.

The Lelos will stay at home to welcome Samoa next weekend. Los Teros move on to Bucharest to play Romania for a third time this year.

 

SCORING

GEORGIA 34
Tries – B. Gorgadze 3 (10′, 21′, 38′), G. Papidze (44′)
Cons – T. Abzhandadze 4/4 (11′, 22′, 39′, 45′)
Pens – T. Abzhandadze 2/3 (8′, 69′)
YC – T. Abzhandadze (54′)

URUGUAY 18
Tries – G. Pujadas (29′), R. Silva (67′)
Cons – F. Berchesi 1/2 (30′)
Pens – F. Berchesi 2/2 (2′, 32′)
YC – F. Etcheverry (20′)

 

TEAMS

GEORGIA
1 Gurum Gogichashvili (17 Nika Abuladze 57′), 2 Shalva Mamukashvili (16 Giorgi Chkoidze 52′), 3 Guram Papidze (18 Vakhtang Abdaladze 46′), 4 Lado Chachanidze, 5 Kote Mikautadze (19 Nodar Cheishvili 59′), 6 Beka Gorgadze, 7 Beka Saghinadze, 8 Tornike Jalagonia (20 Otar Giorgadze 70′), 9 Vaso Lobzhanidze (21 Tengiz Peranidze 76′), 10 Tedo Abzhandadze (22 Luka Matkava 76′), 11 Sandro Todua (23 Demur Tapladze 65′), 12 Merab Sharikardze (capt.), 13 Giorgi Kveseladze, 14 Akaki Tabutsadze, 15 Davit Niniashvili

URUGUAY
1 Mateo Sanguinetti (17 Matías Benítez 68′), 2 Guillermo Pujadas (16 Facundo Gattas 61′), 3 Ignacio Péculo (18 Mathias Franco 70′), 4 Ignacio Dotti (19 Diego Magno 68′), 5 Manuel Leindekar, 6 Eric Dosantos (20 Lucas Bianchi 51′), 7 Santiago Civetta, 8 Manuel Ardao (21 Manuel Diana 72′), 9 Tomás Inciarte (22 Santiago Álvarez 70′), 10 Felipe Berchesi, 11 Juan Manuel Alonso, 12 Andrés Vilaseca (capt.), 13 Felipe Arcos Pérez (23 Juan Zuccarino 61′), 14 Rodrigo Silva, 15 Felipe Etcheverry

 

MATCH OFFICIALS

Referee: Paul Williams (New Zealand)
Assistants: Moe Chaudhry (Canada) & Anthony Woodthorpe (England)
TMO: Chris Hart (New Zealand)