Martin Kafka steers Czechs to important win in Ukraine

Czech team beat Ukraine in Odessa and arguably secured its place in the first division of the European Championship till 2007/08.

After a nervous start, when Czech star player Martin Jágr limped off in the ninth minute with a thigh injury, and Martin Kafka missed a penalty, the team couldn't materialise its pressure.

They had to wait till the 16th minute when Kafka slotted another penalty awarded for collapsing strong maul by the Czech forwards.

Thank to the forwards play, Ukranian defense finally gave up when Kafka scored a try under the posts in the 27th minute.

Home side didn't give up and managed to close the score margin to 8:13 by try from number eight Zavernyy and a clever dropgoal.

About seven hundreds spectators saw only one-way traffic in the second half, with all Kafka, Vokrouhlík, Rohlík crossing Ukranian goal line.

Best Czech players were Martin Kafka, Pavel Syrový and captain Láďa Vondrášek.

Ukraine 8 (8)
Tries: Zavernyy
DG: "nr 15"

Czech Republic 46 (16)
Tries: Kafka 2, Jursík, Rohlík, Vokrouhlík
Cons: Kafka 3
P: Kafka 4

Czech Republic: 1 Souček (Skall), 2 Oswald, 3 Šťastný - 4 Mádry, 5 Němeček - 6 Hudák, 8 Žíla, 7 Vondrášek (captain) - 9 Syrový, 10 Kafka - 11 Jágr (Jursík), 12 Kolář, 13 Vokrouhlík, 14 Smetana - 15 Rohlík
Replacements: Zachariáš, Kubálek, Buryánek, Jursík, Dosedla, Snídal

700 spectators, sunny weather

FIRA-AER European Championship, Division A

*three points for win, two for draw, one for loss