NORWAY v ANDORRA
FANA STADIUM, BERGEN
18th September 2004
With
Andorra holding a 76-3 lead from the first leg of this two match
RWC 2007 eliminator, the pressure was on Norway to at least salvage
some pride even if qualification for the next round was always going
to be a tall order.
With
the worst of Bergen's weather at their backs it was Andorra who
started the match looking stronger. Norway were finding difficulty
in clearing their lines with kicks failing to make much ground against
the strong wind and were penalised on several occasions for killing
the ball.
Having
missed the first penalty attempt, Andorra stand-off Marc Abello
elected to put the next kick into the corner. His forwards won possession
and set up a driving maul but were held up over the line. They were
not to be denied for long, however, and from the next penalty Hooker
Iosef Tchelidze took a quick tap and set up a maul from which lock
Lluis Soldevila was driven over for the game's first try. Abello
converted to give Andorra a 0-7 lead after 10 minutes.
Andorra
continued to keep up the pressure with Abello's kicks from hand
pinning the Norwegians back. After 19 minutes Norway were again
penalised for killing the ball and Abello slotted the penalty to
increase Andorra's lead to 0-10.
Andorra
were becoming increasingly dominant in the scrum, despite having
to replace tight head prop Ramiro Iglesias after 27 minutes, and
Andorra's second try came after winning a scrum against the head
15 yards out. Scrum half Josep Pou picked up at the base and broke
down the blind side to cross unimpeded. Abello missed the conversion
attempt, leaving the score 0-15 after 33 minutes.
After
37 minutes Norwegian flanker Derek Johnson was yellow carded for
an infringement in the scrum as the Andorran front row continued
to make things difficult for the Norwegian pack at the set piece.
In
the last minute of the half the Norwegian forwards were penalised
for going over the top and full back Christian Pons, taking over
the kicking duties from Abello, kicked the penalty to give Andorra
a 0-18 lead at half time.
Norway
emerged for the second half with renewed vigour and began to take
the game to Andorra. As the game became more intense Referee Carl
Joergensen sin-binned Norwegian scrum half Hanro Van Wyk and Andorran
Centre David Astrie following an off-the-ball tussle.
Norway
made good use of the conditions to play the game in the Andorran
half and began to fight their way back, winger Francis Hunt kicking
two penalties in 45 and 52 minutes to bring them back into contention
at 6-18 as Andorra infringed in the face of driving rain and a determined
Norwegian assault.
Andorra
weathered the storm, however, and broke up the left flank to win
a line out in the corner. The forwards collected and drove over,
Josif Tchelidze scoring the unconverted try after 57 minutes to
take the score to 6-23.
Norway
kept fighting back, Hunt scoring another penalty after 65 minutes
to take the score to 9-23 and stand off Oliver Rogers sliding in
to a chip kick ahead which agonisingly crossed the dead ball line
just before he could reach it. Norway could not, however, capitalise
any more on their second half revival and Andorra finished the match
9-23 winners.
This
was an entertaining match for the 300 spectators who braved the
weather, although the number of handling errors enforced by the
conditions made it frustrating at times.
Andorra
now progress to the group stage of the competition where they will
meet Spain, Croatia, Slovenia and Hungary, and must be confident
of their ability to progress further. Norway will take heart from
the fact that they won the second half of this match and banished
the memory of the first leg thrashing in Andorra.
Final
Score: Norway 9 Andorra 23
Aggregate: Norway 12 Andorra 99
Scorers:
NORWAY:
Penalties:
Hunt (3)
ANDORRA:
Tries: Soldevila, Pou, Tchelidze
Conversion: Abello
Penalties: Abello, Pons
Richard McGhee
Match Official (Scotland)
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