By Phil Caplan, Date:1/10/13
GAME 3 – CZECH REPUBLIC 4 UKRAINE 68 – Vrchlabi
Ukraine qualified for the 2014-15 European Shield courtesy of a 13-try rout of the Czech Republic to take the 2103 European Bowl. It was their second victory in the competition having claimed their inaugural silverware in 2009.
Legion XIII second rower Mykhailo Troyan scored four tries while half back Aleksandr Skorbach landed five goals as well as posting a touchdown, as the visitors amassed an unassailable 32-4 half time lead.
Ukraine coach Gennady Vepryk was overjoyed with the performance. “We were waiting for a result like this,” he said. “It shows what we are capable of. We want to thank the Czech side for their welcome in what has been a great four days. Now we can look forward to the higher level of European competition with great belief.”
“Off the field, the organisation in Vrchlabi was excellent,” said disconsolate Czech player/coach Petr Sedina. “On the field, the Ukrainians gave us a lesson in speed, skill and determination. We must learn from that.”
CZECH REPUBLIC
Otto Friedl, Jiri Pecina, Pavel Vrana, Vit Caslavka, Jiri Valek, Jan Buben, Jiri Suchopar, Antonin Berk, Petr Sedina (c), David Lahr, Vaclav Fisher, Michal Hora, Jan Sluka. Subs: Patrik Suchma, Pavel Kubasta, Ladislav Cintler, Jan Zitek
Goals: Sedina 2
UKRAINE
Volodymyr Mashkin, Andrii Bashevskyi, Bogdan Vepryk, Vitalii Felko, Sergii Romanko, Volobymyr Lysenko, Oleksandr Skorbach, Roman Shashkov, Igor Urkin, Maksym Miroshnichenko, Mykhailo Troyan, Vadym Tolstoi,, Sergii Kravchenko. Subs: Oleksandr Kozak, Artem Bespalchenko, Volodymyr Mazepa, Danyl Pozhidaev
Tries: Troyan 4, Mashkin 2, Shaskov 3, Mazepa, Romanko, Skorbach, Pojidaev
Goals: Skorbach 5/10, Romanko 3/3
