Ukraine came from behind to take the honours. Greece led 18-10 early in the second half after Dimosthenis Katsonakis scored in the corner and Sam Stratis converted from the touch line, but Ukraine then registered five tries in 19 minutes to take control of the game.

The visitors hit the front when hooker Yevhen Checheta scored after a break from Oleksandr Skorbach who converted the try to make it 22-18 on the hour. Three minutes later, Dmytro Semereko dived over from dummy-half after Dimosthenis Katsonakis was unable to take a high kick. Another dropped ball led to good field position and Ukraine made the hosts pay when Yevhenii Trusov went over.

They made sure of the win when centre Mykhailo Troian scored out wide, Aris Koulizakis with a consolation try for the Greeks.

Artur Martyrosian, Ukraine head coach, praised his team for the victory, signalling out the performances of his skipper Skorbach, Trusov and 34-year-old centre Troian. “With the situation we have in our country, this is really successful,” he said. “We had a one week training camp and just two rounds of a 9s domestic competition to prepare.”