Ukraine go close against Sweden
UKRAINE pushed Sweden all the way but fell just short against the Rugby Europe Trophy table toppers in Trelleborg, the southernmost port of Sweden.
In front of more than 1,200 excited spectators no one would have thought such a gap existed given the closeness of this match for nearly 75 minutes.
Sweden, who eventually won 36-24, scored the first try of the game through their largest lock Oscar Larsson, but within five minutes the visitors were level through the efforts of blindside flanker Maksym Dulia.
The Ukraine defence was tested for much of the remainder of the half but with centre Denys Primushenetskiy and openside Davyd Vivcharyk to the fore, the score remained equal.
An excellent counter attack just before half-time saw a try for Ukraine’s Vivcharyk converted by fly-half Vladyslav Adazhynyk.
Ukraine leading at the break had certainly not what the hosts had anticipated.
The first 10 minutes of the second half proved decisive. From a kick-off receipt Swedish fly-half Tim Johansson made a telling break leading to a score by prop Ale Loman. Johansson repeated his break three minutes later and this, plus some excellent off-loading, saw Swedish scrum half Mattias Nilsson regain the lead for Sweden.
However, within three minutes a penalty from in front of the posts by Adazhynyk brought the score back to 17-17.
An excellent short side break saw Sweden take a 22-17 lead through Nilsson again. The missed conversion and then an excellently converted try scored by the rampaging Ukrainian loosehead Vitalli Kramarenko meant with a quarter of the match to go Ukraine were leading.
But Swedish captain Axel Kalling-Smith made a searing break that took him under the posts. It was another break by Kalling-Smith that lead to Sweden’s final try and a 36-24 lead.
Ukraine refused to give up and came back strongly. Two Swedish players were yellow carded for repeated offences in their 22m area and many in the crowd were surprised when two more penalties by Sweden close to their line did not result in a yellow card or a penalty try. The Swedes held out for what is their first victory over Ukraine.
This was a huge improvement by the Ukrainian team and they pushed the Swedes all the way. Ultimately their lack of match practice and match fitness due to the situation in Ukraine proved decisive.
Fly-half Adazhynyk had a strong game while openside Vivcharyk received the man of the match award from the Swedish team captain at the post match function.
Ukraine face their final test of the season away in Zurich against a strong Switzerland team who are looking to top the table ahead of Sweden. If Ukraine can continue to improve as they did last Saturday their clock making opponents will have a tough test on their hands.