In a European championship B rugby league clash, played yesterday in Vereya, south-west of Moscow, Russia ran out narrow winners by 24 points to 18.

The match had originally been down to be played in Ukraine, in the north-eastern city of Kharkiv, but was switched to Russia in the light of the spiralling political crisis triggered by the ousting earlier this year of Viktor Yanukovych, the pro-Moscow Ukrainian President.

All Ukraine's points were scored by the same player - stand-off, Oleksandr Skorbach.

Exit polls suggest the election was won by a wealthy confectionery magnate called Petro Poroshenko, who had secured the support of Vitali Klitschko, the former professional boxer.

Klitschko may now become mayor of Kyiv, Ukraine's capital and biggest city.