Bogdan Petreanu scored a hat-trick of tries as Romania picked up their first win of the IRB Under 19 World Championship 2007 by defeating Chinese Taipei 35-10 at Queen’s in Belfast, whereby keeping alive their hopes of finishing ninth in Division B.
Romania dominated possession and territory for the majority of the first half, using their larger pack well to retain the ball. It was clearly evident that Romanian were looking to score as many points as possible, turning down several penalties in the Chinese Taipei have to kick to touch.
These attacking tactics were rewarded in only the fourth minute when, having won a penalty inside the Chinese Taipei 22, Romania kicked for touch and from the resulting lineout, Cristian Munteanu winning the ball before his pack drove the ball towards the line.
Scrum half and captain Valentin Ivan was the beneficiary of this drive, sniping round the side of the ruck to score the first try of the match, one he converted himself. Tries for Petreanu and Alexandro Braileanu followed as Romania established a 21-0 lead after only 14 minutes.
Late flourish
The Chinese Taipei defence worked hard, but found it difficult to stop the Romanian forwards and number 8 Petreanu claimed his second try of the match just before half time to give his side a commanding 28-0 lead at the break.
Chinese Taipei came out with a renewed determination in the second half and controlled periods of the half, but it was Romania who claimed the first points, Petreanu completing his hat-trick four minutes after the restart.