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Last Game Greece 22 - Malta 24
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Greeks Win Comfortably In New Caledonia |
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Match Details |
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Date: March 6th 2004 Place: Paitai Stadium, New Caledonia Score: Greece 58 (Tries - Ray Mavroudis3, Mark Mundine 2, Stuart Philpott2, York Antoniou, Tony Gerasimou, Adam Fletcher, Dean Antony. Goals - Stuart Philpott 4, Mitchell Karabatsos 2, York Antoniou.) New Caledonia 8 (Tries - Fano Katena, Patrice Maituku.) Teams: Greece - Stuart Philpott, Mark Mundine, York Antoniou, Tony Gerasimou, Adam Fletcher, George Kouparitsas, Dean Antony (C), Jim Pizanias, Thomas Giatsios, Michael Tsougranis, Michael Parzakonis, Paul Salamakis, Mitchell Karabatsos. Interchange: Ray Mavroudis, Simon Alexiades, Leo Kriketos, Steve Georgallis, Michael Alexander, George Siambis. Coach: Steve Georgallis New Caledonia - Tracky Socejinc, Frank MacKenzie, Isitio Folautanoa, Fano Katena, Phillipe MacKenzie, Pato Gislain, Topi Pakaina, Patrice Maituku, Jean Marc Tuifua, Jackson Suila, Etienne Falautanoa, Sanua Paki'hi'vatau, Thierry Tuaula (C). Interchange: Telo Falautanoa, Emeriek Konyi, Soa Kimi, Lean Phillipe, Tuifua, Baptisse Palene, Wilson Fetautaki, Mete Lagikufa. Coach: Jean Claude Miluielle. Referee: Andrew Zapantis Touch Juges: Joseph Vautua, Soakimi Fautau Crowd: 1200 Penalties: 4-all Scrums: Greece 9-8 Half Time: Greece 26-4
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Game Report |
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Greece made an historic tour of New Caledonia last month to help develop the game in the South Pacific region. The game between New Caledonia and Greece was played at Paitai Stadium located north of Noumea. After a cyclone hit the country earlier in the week the game was called off on Wednesday but a change of weather enabled the game to go ahead on Saturday. With Polynesian dancers entertaining the crowed both teams entered the field and were greeted by local personalities. The Greeks brought over their own referee in Andrew Zapantis who officiates in the Junior Reps and South Sydney Junior competitions. “We have problems with attracting good referees here in New Caledonia and we are grateful to the Greeks for bringing over a top quality referee” said Vandome. New Caledonia started the game in good spirit making the Greeks drop plenty of balls with forced passes and off-loads. Winger Franck MacKenzie almost scored for the locals in the eighth minute but knocked the ball down. Greek captain Dean Antony opened the scoring with a try in the 10th minute after a wonderful break from Thomas Giatsos. Antony went from hero to villain when he knocked on from the kick-off but New Caledonia failed to capitalise on good field position. Newtown centre Tony Gerasimou split the defence and raced 40-metres before being chased down by the Caledonians. The local registered their first try on the back of a penalty in the 15th minute. From the tap prop-forward Patrice Maituku was able to barge over and score wide out. New Caledonia was matching it stride by stride with the Greeks who were their own worst enemies dropping too much ball. They managed to hang on to the ball in the 20th minute when York Antoniou crossed to make it 10-4 to Greece Ray Mavroudis was on the field for a short time when he scored from dummy half in the 26th minute. Greece were in again five minute later when Antony fed Mark Mundine a clear passage to the line and Stuart Philpott burst through the attempted tackle of opposition full-back Tacky Socejine to give his side a 26-4 advantage at half time. The injection of Steve Georgallis in the second stanza was clearly evident when he put Mundine in the open but he couldn’t hang on to the ball killing off a certain four-pointer. Philpott used exceptional pace to score under the posts before Mundine crossed wide out after lead up work from Jim Pizanias and Georgallis. Philpott added magnificent touchline conversion to put Greece ahead 38-4. Mundine would have registered another four-pointer but failed to combine well with Antoniou. Mavroudis scored his second try in the 57th minute after a line break from Philpott. Three minutes later winger Adam Flecher hoped to get a start with English Club Wakefield Trinity showed great speed and vision to get to a well excuted kick from Georgallis. Mavroudis recorded try number three with a 40m run that began with Giatsos before New Caledonia scored their second try of the game with a try to centre Fano Katena in the 78th minute. Greece weren’t finished for the day with Pizanias using his huge frame to almost crash over. New Caledonia were able to hold his off but had no such luck when Gerasimou crashed over from the next tackle. Philpott was awarded the official man of the match and was well supported by Antony, Mavroudis, Giatsos and Fletcher. “Everybody played well out there today. To come to a foreign country and beat them by such a score line speaks high volume for our ability” said Georgallis. Greece will now concentrate on their match against Victoria in August. The match will be played as a curtain-raiser to the Melbourne Storm vs Bulldogs NRL match at Olympic Park. Greece is also hoping to meet Italy later this year with Marconi Stadium as a possible venue. Greece will kick-off a small domestic competition in Athens in October 2005 as well as playing an international against Russia in the capital city. “We have a business plan in operation that will take time but we are committed to getting the game played in Greece as well as being competitive on the international stage” said georgallis.
Report from RUGBY LEAGUE REVIEW
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