Rugby Europe Championship Round-Up: Germany go marching on
Rugby Europe Championship Rugby News

Rugby Europe Championship Round-Up: Germany go marching on

4 March 2017
Rugby Rucker
Round Three of the 2017 Rugby Europe Championship produced victories for Germany, Georgia and Romania.

And it was Germany’s win over Belgium which caught the eye as they continue to push for qualification ahead of the 2019 Rugby World Cup.


It wasn’t as convincing as it could, and probably should, have been but Germany had enough power to pull clear of Belgium and record their second Rugby Europe Championship victory of the campaign on Saturday.

After racing into a three-try lead shortly after half-time, Germany were in cruise control in Offenbach but Belgium responded valiantly to give the hosts a real scare in front of 4,127 fans.

Searching for their first win of the competition, the Black Devils gave themselves a fighting chance of pulling off an improbable comeback but were left with too much to do after taking the best part of an hour to settle.


In the end, the visitors had to be happy with a losing bonus point as fly-half Alan Williams knocked over a penalty from 45 metres out in the final act of a pulsating game played with the iconic Webb Ellis Cup in attendance.

Meanwhile leaders Georgia resisted Spain’s best efforts in Medina del Campo to come away with a 20-10 win, outscoring their hosts by two tries to one.


The two full-backs, Spain’s Brad Linklater and Georgia’s Merab Kvirikashvili, traded early penalties before Spain went in ahead at the break thanks to a try from Kalokalo Gavidi, leading 10-3.

Georgia went level ten minutes into the second half through a Giorgi Tkhilaishvili try, converted by Kvirikashvili, and they took the lead for the first time in the 62nd minute thanks to a try from Zviad Matiashvili, with a late Kvirikashvili penalty making it 20-10.

And finally, Romania comfortably saw off Russia in a 30-10 by scoring four tries, with two scores coming in the last 11 minutes.