Georgian national rugby union sevens team started the first qualifying stage of World Sevens Series in Hong Kong with victory. “The Lelos” beat Jamaica 27:17. The Georgians showed good play in the first half but did not play well in the second one. The Jamaicans scored three tries in the second half.
The Georgian team started with the following staff: Zurab Dzneladze, Irakli Machkhaneli, Irakli Gvinjilia, Lasha Khmaladze, Vito Kolelishvili, Giorgi Pruidze, Tedo Zibzibadze. The Jamaicans started playing. Dzneladze could not make good assist. The Georgians attacked and Machkhaneli scored try. Unfortunately, conversion was missed.
When the match was resumed the Georgians attacked again and Machkhaneli scored the second try. The conversion was missed again – 10:0. At the end of the half, Zibzibadze scored try and the first half ended up – 15:0.
While the break coaches and the boys cheered themselves up. They wanted to play like it was 0:0. Khmaladze kicked the ball with leg. The Jamaican tackled him without ball and was sin-binned. Kolelishvili scored his first try and Khmaladze used conversion – 22:0. When the match was resumed the Jamaican caught the ball and scored try.
Soon Kolelishvili scored try. In the last minutes the Georgian team was confused. Perhaps, it was because of substitutes and the Georgians thought they had already won the match and lost concentration. Soon the score became 27:17.
It must be said that the Georgian national rugby union sevens team plays differently from all others.
In our group Japan will play against Brazil. The team of Kakha Alania and Paliko Jimsheladze will hold the next match at 05:22 Tbilisi time tomorrow. The Georgians will hold the last match of the group against Japan at 14:10 Tbilisi time tomorrow.
Zura Ksovreli