There was to be no fairytale ending for Georgia at the Rugby Europe Under-18 Championships after this year’s surprise finalists crashed to a 57-0 defeat to France in Saturday’s showpiece occasion at the Stade Ernest Wallon in Toulouse.

Cheered on by an 8,000-strong crowd, France scored nine tries to overwhelm the Junior Lelos who were up against it as soon as prop Ushangi Cheishvili was sin-binned in the ninth minute.

It took seven minutes for France to capitalise on their one-man advantage, full-back Arthur Retiere scoring the first of his two tries. Winger Alexandre Nicoue then crossed for France’s second following a further yellow card, this time to flanker Mamamtavrishvili. With fly-half Thomas Darmon converting France led 12-0 at the break.

Retiere and Nicoue completed their doubles shortly after the restart as France effectively put the game to bed. Nathan Decron, with two, number eight Selevasio Tolofua and replacement Peato Mauvaka were next on the scoresheet before replacement Saba Svimonishvili became the third Georgian player to be sent to the sin-bin for an offence that was punished further by the award of a penalty try.

Bronze for England

Dethroned champions England defeated Italy 39-12 in the bronze medal match.

England posted 34 points without reply in the opening 48 minutes, with Zach Mercer, Paolo Odogwu, Johnny McPhillips, who also kicked nine points, Mark Dixon and Josh Caulfield all crossing the opposition line before Italy found a response through hooker Massimo Ceciliani and flanker Mattie Zago with a second from Odogwu sandwiched in between.

A brace of tries apiece from wingers Keelan Giles and George Gasson helped Wales to a 38-8 win against Portugal in the fifth-place play-off, while last year’s beaten finalists Ireland avoided finishing last in the eight-team elite competition after a 21-12 win over Scotland.

Russia were crowned Division A champions after a 16-0 win against Belgium in Villefranche, while Ukraine took the honours in Division B thanks to a 43-8 victory against Lithuania.

Final results:

Elite competition
Final: France 57-0 Georgia
Third place play-off: England 39-12 Italy
Fifth place play-off: Portugal 8-38 Wales
Seventh place play-off: Scotland 12-21 Ireland

Division A
Final: Russia 16-0 Belgium
Thirdplace play-off: Germany 11-10 Romania
Fifth place play-off: Poland 0-38 Spain
Seventh place play-off: Sweden 8-46 Netherlands

Division B
Final: Ukraine 43-8 Lithuania
Third place play-off: Czech Republic 25-13 Switzerland
Fifth place play-off: Latvia 10-35 Luxembourg
Seventh place play-off: Serbia 0-43 Croatia

Semi-final results:

Elite competition
England 19-23 France
Georgia 6-6 Italy (Georgia win 5-4 on penalties)
Portugal 0-0 Scotland (Portugal win 3-2 on penalties)
Ireland 9-14 Wales

Division A
Russia 23-0 Germany
Romania 3-10 Belgium
Sweden 0-42 Poland
Netherlands 0-24 Spain

Division B
Latvia 20-3 Serbia
Croatia 7-41 Luxembourg
Czech Republic 17-19 Ukraine
Switzerland 0-9 Lithuania 

Quarter-finals results

Elite competition
England 85-5 Portugal
Ireland 8-8 Georgia 8 (Georgia win 3-1 after penalty shootout)
Wales 13-14 Italy
France 22-10 Scotland

Division A
Russia 72-0 Sweden
Romania 26-0 Netherlands
Spain 14-15 Belgium 
Poland 9-30 Germany

Division B
Czech Republic 22-5 Latvia
Switzerland 8-5 Croatia
Luxembourg 17-22 Lithuania
Ukraine 28-3 Serbia

For more details on the Rugby Europe Under-18 Championship, click HERE>>

Photo: CMP