Stuart Wilkinson-coached Russia warmed up for October’s 2013 World Cup European Zone Qualifiers with a 36-4 away win over Ukraine at the Dinamo Stadium in Kharkiv. The Bears were made to fight hard for their victory with skipper Aleksander Lysokon their star man, the stand-off scoring three tries and kicking a perfect six goals, as they were given the hit out they needed a month before their World Cup opener in Padova.

The Ukrainians proved to be redoubtable opponents, their sole score coming late on through a strong run from loose forward Aleksander Kozak. Held to a 12-0 at the break – all the points coming from Lysokon - Russia had to wait until just after the hour for their next score, scrum half Eduard Ososkov crossing.

The visitors finished strongly with three tries in the closing 11 minutes, Igor Chuprin, Lysokon with his third and hooker Vladimir Vlasyuk all going over.

Wilkinson was upbeat about the display. “The match was a great product for rugby league in Eastern Europe,” he said. “The rivalry between these two nations helped make it a passionate encounter. We’ve had a great week’s preparation in our national camp in Vereya where the players grew and bonded as a team. The memory of this game and the new friends I’ve made, I will never forget.”

UKRAINE
Vladimir Mashkin, Igor Shevtsov, Sergey Romanko, Aleksander Skorbach, Dmitriy Semerenko, Vladimir Lobanj, Nikolay Getmanov, Maksim Miroshnichenko, Yury Smoliy, Mikhail Troyan, Sergey Kravchenko, Aleksander Kozak. Subs: Pavel Kardakov, Sergey Shevtsov, Artur Martyrosyan, Vadim Tolstoj

RUSSIA
Maksim Suchkov, Rustam Bulanov, Mikhail Burlutskiy, Roman Safronov, Aleksander Lysokon, Eduard Ososkov, Sergey Konstantinov, Vladimir Vlasyuk, Anatoly Grigorjev, Aleksey Nikolaev, Ilgiz Galimov, Artyom Grigoryan, Aleksey Volkov. Subs: Vladimir Gutsulyak, Grigory Esin, Igor Chuprin, Andrey Sevostjanov.