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Georgia came away from their match against the USA with a 22-7 victory on Saturday in Tbilisi, their final home game before the World Cup. It was a competitive contest with the Eagles defense and set piece putting up a stronger fight than some had expected.
The Eagles survived the first advances by the Lelos with a sturdy defensive stand deep in their own end. They did not hold out the second time. The forwards did their job but when the ball came out wide to Akaki Tabutsadze the winger fended off Chris Mattina with ease to score in the corner.
It would be some time before a second score, as the two sides engaged in a tactical battle. Eventually an attacking lineout yielded a try from a driving maul for Shalva Mamukashvili, the hooker winning his 99th cap for Georgia. Luka Matkava chipped over the conversion to make it 12-0 to the home side.,
From a set move that began at a scrum, the USA attacked the edge of the Georgian defense and found success. Mattina made up for his earlier error with a flat pass to free Christian Dyer down the right side. Dyer found Ruben de Haas in support on his inside for the finish, with Luke Carty adding the extra to leave it 12-7 at the break.
Georgian winger Sandro Todua was binned for a high shot on Paddy Ryan just before halftime, but the Eagles couldn’t take advantage. Instead it was the Lelos who scored next after winning a turnover in their own end. They advanced inside USA territory and Davit Niniashvili found a gap between two forwards to race in for the try, with Matkava again tacking on the extras.
The Eagles continued to frustrate the Georgian attack and Matkava settled for three points near the hour mark. Neither team would score in the final minutes. Nate Augspurger was binned for taking out the Georgian scrumhalf with three minutes to play but the USA would earn a turnover, and then a pair of knock-ons ended attacks for both sides and brought an end to the match.
That brings a close to the USA’s European tour with their next match in a month’s time against French Top 14 side Toulouse in Utah. Georgia will have one final run-out prior to the World Cup, against Scotland in Edinburgh next weekend.
SCORING
GEORGIA 22
Tries (3) – A. Tabutsadze (11′), S. Mamukashvili (28′), D. Niniashvili (46′)
Cons (2) – L. Matkava 2/3 (29′, 47′)
Pens (1) – L. Matkava 1/1 (59′)
YC (1) – S. Todua (39′)
USA 7
Tries (1) – R. de Haas (31′)
Cons (1) – L. Carty 1/1 (32′)
YC (1) – N. Augspurger (77′)
TEAMS
GEORGIA
1 Nika Abuladze (17 Guram Gogichashvili 51′), 2 Shalva Mamukashvili (16 Tengiz Zamtaradze 55′), 3 Beka Gigashvilli (18 Guram Papidze 55′), 4 Nodar Chieshvili, 5 Kote Mikautadze (19 Lado Chachanidze 59′), 6 Luka Ivanishvili (20 Otar Giorgadze 67′), 7 Giorgi Tsutskiridze (20 Otar Giorgadze 14′-25′), 8 Tornike Jalagonia, 9 Vaso Lobzhanidze (21 Gela Aprasidze 59′), 10 Luka Matkava, 11 Sandro Todua (22 Demur Tapladze 63′), 12 Merab Sharikadze (capt.), 13 Giorgi Kveseladze, 14 Akaki Tabutsadze, 15 Davit Niniashvili (23 Mirian Modebadze 70′)
USA
1 Jack Iscaro (17 Jake Turnbull 67′), 2 Dylan Fawsitt (16 Peter Malcolm 67′), 3 Kaleb Geiger (18 Paul Mullen HT), 4 Sam Golla, 5 Greg Peterson (capt.) (19 Nate Brakeley 69′), 6 Cam Dolan, 7 Paddy Ryan, 8 Thomas Tu’avao (20 Luke White 14′), 9 Ruben de Haas (21 Nick McCarthy 47′), 10 Luke Carty, 11 Nate Augspurger, 12 Tommaso Boni (22 Dominic Besag 32′), 13 Tavite Lopeti, 14 Christian Dyer (23 Lauina Futi 75′), 15 Chris Mattina
MATCH OFFICIALS
Referee: Jaco Peyper (South Africa)
Assistants: Sam Grove-White (Scotland) & Luc Ramos (France)
TMO: Thomas Charabas (France)
