Germany next
In their efforts to qualify for the 2007 World Cup's final tournament, as they did in 1999, Spain beat Holland 24-13 in Madrid. Next they play Germany home and away.
There were some 7 000 spectators at the Campo Central of Madrid's Ciudad Universitaria on Saturday to see Spain home.
The first half clinched it for Spain when they scored three converted tries. This gave them a 24-7 lead at half-time.
Experienced scrumhalf Pablo Feijóo scored the first try after several good midfield breaks by the Spanish backs, and then flyhalf Esteban Roqué added a penalty goal before a try by flank Derk Tazelaar, scored immediately after Roqué's penalty goal and converted by flyhalf Bart Viguurs, who has NPC experience with Wairarapa Bush in New Zealand, pulled the score back to 10-7.
But Spain came right back with a try by captain Ferrán Velazco and then a third by debutant Ignacio Martín.
There were no tries, when the heat -- it was a cloudless 28º in Madrid -- seemed to sap the players' energies, at all in the second half, just two penalty goals by Viguurs in a half of many penalties.
Spain play Germany, the winners of Pool B after their 33-15 victory over Belgium, on 13 and 27 May. The winner of that play-off round will go on to the fourth round of European qualification, and will play against the team ranked sixth in the European Nations Cup, which will be Ukraine. The teams ranked fourth and fifth will play in the other pool in Round 4. There is Round 5 after that when Italy join in. Spain have some way to go.
Teams:
Spain: 15 César Sempere, 14 David Mota, 13 Ferrán Velazco (captain), 12 Jaime Nava, 11 Ignacio Martín, 10 Esteban Roqué, 9 Pablo Feijóo, 8 Alfonso Mata, 7 Juan González, 6 Rafael Camacho, 5 Andrew Ebbett, 4 César Bernasconi, 3 Manuel Serrano, 2 Mathieu Cidre, 1 Jon Insausti.
Replacements: 16 Diego Zarzosa, 17 César Caballero, 18 Francisco López, 19 Iván Criado, 20 Carlos Arenas, 21 Andrei Kovalenco, 22 Pedro Martin
Holland: 15 Geradus Viguurs, 14 Jay Jay Boske, 13 Jerker Grader, 12 Renier Bester, 11 Ian van der Werf, 10 Bart Viguurs, 9 Chris Williams, 8, 7 Derk Tazelaar, 6 Dirk Kersten, 5 Tim Schumacher, 4 Benjamin Mast, 3 Chris Moeliker, 2 Miquel van der Cruijssen, 1 Allard Jonkers.
Replacements: 16 Wesley Mulder, 17 Arjan Talens, 18 Jente Schuitemaker, 19 Lammert Ruiter, 20 Jeroen van der Loos, 21 Richard van der Broek, 22 Edgar de la Hoz
Referee: Emil Pirtoc (Rumania)
Touch judges: Joseph Verhoest (Belgium), Jean-Marie Piraveau (France)
