PREMIERSHIP XV 32 GEORGIA XV 36

A GALLANT Premiership XV found the power and fitness of Georgia too much as they were edged out 36-32 at Bridgend’s Brewery Field last night.

It had looked like the unerring right boot of Cross Keys and Dragons fly-half Steffan Jones would be the deciding factor when the hosts led 22-14 in the closing stages of the first half.

But the Premiership – featuring eight players from Gwent in the squad – tired in the face of some determined charges and expansive play from the visitors.

This was not a side featuring the stars that had pushed England and Scotland hard in the World Cup but they still possessed some eye-catching talent and were good value for a five tries to two win in an entertaining encounter.

It was the kicking of fly-half Jones that was the difference between the sides at the break with the Premiership XV leading 22-21 despite being outscored three tries to one.

The number 10 struck five super penalties and a touchline conversion and it was just as well that he was accurate from the tee because the visitors caused all manner of problems with ball in hand.

They weren’t the big, mean, imposing pack that had been expected; instead they were more of a threat when they played at a high tempo.

In fact, it was at scrum time that the all-Cross Keys front row of Richard Cornock, Gerwyn Price and Marc Jones had a lot of joy The Georgians didn’t have the bulk of their hosts but boy did they run hard.

Hooker Shalva Mamukashvili, lock David Chitidze and scrum-half George Kacharana all barged their way over the line of the Welshmen with full-back Sabo Nikolava adding the extras.

That wasn’t enough for the lead at half-time thanks to the superb striking of Jones and a well-finished try by Bridgend flanker Matthew Llewellyn after the Premiership had battered away at the line.

It was the Georgians that caused all the problems at the start of the second half, with big lock Chitidze and scrum-half Kacharana the stars, but they were unable to make that final pass.

That looked likely to be costly when replacement fly-half Jamie Davies carried on where Jones left off with a booming penalty but the visitors deservedly got their noses in front on the hour, centre Irakli Chkhikvadze crossing and Nikolava converting for a 28-25 lead.

It seemed to be game over when replacement lock Kaba Kikvidze barged over with 12 minutes left only for Llandovery’s Sam Soul to go over in the corner with Davies expertly adding the extras.

Nikolava calmed Georgia’s nerves with an injury-time penalty and they safely saw out time.

Premiership scorers: tries – M Llewellyn, S Soul; conversions – S Jones, J Davies; penalties – S Jones (5), J Davies

Georgia scorers: S Mamukashvili, D Chitidze, G Kacharana, I Chkhikvadze, J Kikvidze; conversions – S Nikolava (4); penalty – S Nikolava