One step away from the pedestal

      In Dzerzhinsk the winner and prize-winners of the 3rd round of the higher league rugby-7 championship among men's teams were decided. Dzerzhinsk's Khimik came close to entering the top three, but in the end fell one step short of the podium, finishing fourth.

      Nine teams gathered in Dzerzhinsk for the next round of the sevens (three fewer than in the 2nd round in St. Petersburg), which competed over two days — Saturday and Sunday — on the natural grass pitch of the Khimik stadium. Split into two groups (five teams in Group A and four in Group B), teams in the group stage determined who would go on to play in the semifinals and who would meet in matches for fifth-seventh places. Note that rugby-7 matches are played in two halves of 7 minutes, with extra time awarded if the score is tied.

      Dzerzhinsk's Khimik, placed in Group A, performed well in Saturday's program. The hosts won all three matches, beating Baltic Storm-2 from Kaliningrad (20:12), the Tatarstan youth team (24:12) and Universitet from Chita (34:5). Sunday, however, was not a day for Khimik. It began with a setback in the final group-stage match, where the head-to-head with Sibir (Novosibirsk) decided who would finish first and who second in Group A. Khimik lost (12:24), which nevertheless did not prevent the Dzerzhinsk side from reaching the semifinals. The results of the next two matches directly influenced the medal standings in the semifinal quartet.

      The semifinal against Narvskaya Zastava (St. Petersburg) was dramatic for Khimik. Trailing 5:12 during the game, the Dzerzhinsk players managed to hang on: team captain Alexander Marshuba grounded a try and converted it himself to level the score (12:12), sending the match into extra time. However, two minutes into the overtime Khimik players made a mistake, which the opponents immediately capitalized on: Sergey Gilyov of Narvskaya Zastava executed an accurate bounce kick and deprived the hosts of a chance to play in the final.

      In the third-place match Khimik faced Sibir again. Unfortunately, the Dzerzhinsk team could not avenge their morning group-stage defeat. At first they were chasing (5:7), then they leveled (7:7) and even went ahead (14:7). There was very little time left in regulation, but the hosts could not hold the winning score. Sibir restored parity (14:14), sent the game into overtime, and there Ivan Kuzmin scored the winning point (19:14). Thus the bronze medals went to Novosibirsk, and Khimik finished the 3rd round in fourth place.

      In the home round Khimik played with the following lineup: Zharkov, Ivanov, Skokov, Marshuba, Kasyutich, Romashov, Voskoboynikov, Bobkov, Zenin, Piotukhovsky, Chernov, Anisimov, Kimkevich. Also note a recent addition: Khimik's newcomer — defender Grigory Karginov, who previously played for the Krasny Yar youth team — is a multiple Russian champion and medalist and is a member of Russia's national team (under-18 players).

      Feeling the proximity of the podium and medals, Dzerzhinsk rugby fans were, of course, disappointed after their beloved team's Sunday defeats. But to be fair, Khimik did manage to take a step forward (recall that in June, after the 2nd round, the Dzerzhinsk team finished fifth).

      And the winner of the 3rd round of the higher league rugby-7 championship was Khimik's semifinal conqueror — Narvskaya Zastava — which in the final snatched victory from Volgograd's Rotor literally in the last seconds (12:10).

      Medals and cups of the 3rd round were presented to their recipients, and the teams went home to prepare for the 4th and final round of the sevens, which will be held in Volgograd. There the "minor" medals and cups for the round will be contested, and the season's top teams will receive their trophies (recall that teams earn bonus points for each round depending on place, and the overall winner is determined by the total number of points accumulated over the season).

      It remains to add that Khimik's activity is not limited to the sevens. In the near future, under head coach Stepan Efremov, Khimik has a scheduled PARI higher league rugby match: on Saturday, August 23, Khimik will host the leader, CSKA (19 points after five games), in Dzerzhinsk. Khimik, currently in 3rd place, has 17 points after four games.

      Nina Shumilova. Photo from RK "Khimik" website.

      More news about the event:

      A step away from the podium

      The winner and prize-winners of the 3rd round of the higher league rugby-7 championship among men's teams were decided in Dzerzhinsk. 13:26 16.08.2025 Dzerzhinsk Vedomosti - Dzerzhinsk

      "Dzerzhinsk Khimik" missed out on the bronze of the rugby-7 championship on home ground

      12:32 16 August

      News Service

      Dzerzhinsk Khimik a step away from medals in a tense rugby sevens battle

      The third round of the higher league rugby-7 championship among men's teams concluded in Dzerzhinsk, 13:02 16.08.2025 ProDzer.Ru - Dzerzhinsk

      News from neighboring regions on the topic:

      Referee appointments

      15th round of the Crimean Football Union Premier League

      Press Service

      On August 17, 2025, Simferopol's Tavria will play an away match in the 15th round of the CFU Premier League against Grifon-KFU. 11:39 16.08.2025 FC TSK-Tavria - Simferopol

      Arsenal veterans won in Shchekino, Khimik dealt with Mech

      Matches of the 13th round of the Tula Region veterans' championship took place.

      Shchekino — Arsenal (Tula) — 1:3. 21:22 15.08.2025 Tula-Football.Ru - Tula

      The CFU Premier League championship returns: matches of the 15th round ahead

      Photo: press service of FC KyzylTash

      The CFU Premier League championship season 2025 will resume this coming weekend, August 16 and 17. 15:41 15.08.2025 Football Union - Simferopol

      Video broadcast. August 15. Siberian Championship. Third league. KDV (Tomsk) - Polymer (Barnaul). Temp (Barnaul) - Yenisey-M (Krasnoyarsk)

      On Friday, August 15 two teams representing Altai Krai in the Siberia and Far East Third League will play their first matches in the second half of the tournament. 18:06 15.08.2025 Altai Sport Newspaper - Barnaul

      Decisions of the Control and Disciplinary Committee dated 15.08.2025

      1) Proceedings on disciplinary violations in the 15th round Irkutsk 6x6 football championship match between Gvardiya and Nygda were terminated due to the absence of a disciplinary violation; 18:40 15.08.2025 City Football Federation - Irkutsk

      Perm team Fighter became bronze medalist of the All-Russian tournament "Final of the Russian Paintball League"

      In the semifinal our team met the Russian champions – Guardians from Moscow; regular time finished 2:2, 16:19 14.08.2025 Ministry of Physical Culture and Sport - Perm