Romania, Georgia, Russia and Portugal remain in contention to be crowned European Under 19 champions and secure the region’s place at the IRB Junior World Rugby Trophy 2009 after winning their opening matches in Poland on Sunday.
Top seeds Romania scored four tries in overcoming Belgium 28-9 in Sopot and will now face Portugal in the semi-finals after they defeated neighbours Spain – seeded one place above them at number four – by a 24-8 margin in Gdansk with Imanol Iruarriz, Carlos Casanova and Gautier Guibouin their try scorers.
This first semi-final will take place in Przodkowo on Wednesday, while the other last four encounter in Sopot will be between Georgia and Russia after they enjoyed contrasting victories against the Netherlands and Poland.
Georgia, who beat Romania to finish third at the inaugural IRB Junior World Rugby Trophy in Chile earlier this year, comfortably overcame the Netherlands 62-7 with David Gzdzelishvili, Yakhtang Kavtidze and Sandro Inashvili scoring two tries apiece. Russia meanwhile edged the host nation 22-11.
Their dreams of being crowned FIRA-AER European Group A Under 19 champions may be over for another year, but Belgium now face Spain and the Netherlands tackle Poland as the ranking matches to determine fifth to eight places begin.
The tournament concludes on Saturday with the final and three rankings matches.
