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Last Game Greece 22 - Malta 24
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Greece Wins In Gutsy Performance |
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Match Details |
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Date: August 22nd 2004 Place: Olympic Park. Melbourne Australia Score: Greece 24 (Tries - Stuart Philpot, Dean Antony, George Siambis, George Kaouparitsas. Goals - Philpott 4 .) Victoria Rep 18 (Tries - Kingi Carney 2, Caine Sinclair. Goals - Mike Hurinui 3) Teams: Greece - Stuart Philpot, George Siambis, York Antoniou, George Kouparitsas, Adam Fletcher, George Gatis, Dean Antony (C), Jim Pizanias, Ray Mavroudis, Con Rassis, Michael Giorgas, Kosta Kouparitsas, Thomas Giotsas. Interchange - Michael Alexander, Paul Salamakis, Leo Kriketas, Aris Mousavasilis. Coach - Steve Georgallis Victoria Rep - Temo Anitonio, Teaviki Fanaua, Ricky Bennion, Fabian Teki, Mark Toussant, Caine Sinclair, Mike Hurinui, Stuart Millgate (C), Apia Kora, Alan Atoa, Tyrell Hunt, Tua Aukino, Corey Timothy. Interchange - Troy Hill, Jamie Smitheram, Kingi Carney, Chris Gerretzen, Roddy Tahu, Tamati Smith. Coach - Shayne Smith Referee: Brent Silver Touch Juges: Crowd: 3000 Penalties: Greece 10-7 Scrums: Victoria Rep 7-5 Half Time: Greece 16-12
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Game Report |
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Greece overcame several obstacles to produce a gutsy 24-18 win over the Victoria state side in the curtain-raiser to the Melbourne Storm and Bulldogs NRL match at Olympic Park.
Greece went into the game minus regular players Nick Nikitaras, Mitchell Karabatsos, Mark Mundine and Nick Kouparitsas because of club commitments as well as the late withdrawal of Kim Serdaris due to injury.
A number of players dropped out of the squad during the week leading up to the game because of injuries sustained.
Instead of a six man bench Greece went into the game with just four after Arthur Siambis pulled out at the last minute with illness. Coach Steve Georgallis decided against playing just before kick-off instead putting his faith in the players he had.
"I am not always going to be playing and it was time that the players stepped up to the mark. I believed they could do it even with two less players on the bench" said Georgallis.
British based brothers Aris and Mixalas Mousavasilis paid their own way to play for Greece but Mixalas had to withdraw from the team because of injury. He still made the trek down under and gained valuable experience from the players and coaching staff spending quality time with Greg "Social" Totten.
York Antoniou only arrived from Greece on Friday morning two days before the game. He was still suffering from jet lag on game day but produced a sterling performance.
Victoria have improved in the past two years and are challenging both Western Australia and Northern Territory as the number one state in the Affiliated States.
It was Greece that got off to a flying start when full-back Stuart Philpot stepped inside the opposition to score in the second minute of play. He converted his own try to put Greece ahead 6-0.
Victoria equalised four minutes later when Kingi Carney went over wide. Half-back Mike Murinui had no trouble with the conversion and then put in a kick for Caine Sinclair to pounce on in the 12th minute. Hurinui added the extras but missed a penalty goal attempt soon after that would have given Victoria an eight point buffer.
Greece saw little of the football in a 10 minute spell but showed plenty of spirit and courage to hold off the Victorians with a wonderful defensive display. The home side had plenty of chances to score but were put under pressure from the Greeks.
Instead it was Greece that hit back when Ray Mavroudis ran the angel and then put captain Dean Antony through the gap and over to score adjacent to the posts in the 28th minute. Philpot levelled the scores at 12 all.
Former North Qld Cowboy hooker George Gatis having played a full game for Wests Premier League the night before put in a well executed kick that saw winger George Siambis outleap his opposite in Mark Toussaint to score to give Greece a 16-12 lead at half time.
Former Australian captain George Peponis and current Bulldogs five-eighth Braith Anasta joined the Greek bench to lend on there support during the first half.
Mavroudis clearly the best player on the field in the first half lefty the field at half time with a groin injury that even injections from Greek RL Doctor Peter Calaizis couldn't mend. Mavroudis returned for the second half but only lasted a couple of minutes before retiring.
Prop forward Jim Pizanias who troubled the Victorians with some damaging runs injured his ankle and had to be assisted from the field.
With the go-forward of Pizanias and the tactical play of Mavroudis missing as well as an injury to Con Rassis the bench only had one fit player compared to the Victorians who had six.
"I kept looking back at the bench and we had no-one. I was using our one player on the bench and Con did a good job in getting back on the field at intervals" said Georgallis.
Rassis was a last minute addition to the team replacing Serdaris. He was only told the day before that he was on the plane to Melbourne and he repaid the Greek RL by producing a courageous effort that typified the blue and white of Greece.
Michael Giorgas kept going forward all day and Antony tried to spark things but with little reinforcements the Greeks were struggling and the Victorians began to sense it.
Carney used his strength to barge over for his second try in the 50th minute to put Victoria ahead 18-16 after Hurnui added the conversion.
The Greeks had no choice but to dig deep. Winger Adam Fletcher and Siambis took pressure off the forwards by doing a number of dummy half runs.
The turning point saw Thomas Giatos shift to hooker and begin delivering the ball quicker. Kosta Kouparitsas and Giorgas captured some vital yardage while Philpot put in some extra runs from dummy half.
Greece was able to gain some much needed field position and were rewarded with a try to George Kouparitsas in the 57th minute who barged over from close range. Philpot added the extras and then kicked a penalty goal four minutes later after Victoria were penalised for stealing the ball.
Philpot missed with a penalty goal attempt with five minutes remaining. Victoria had a last throw of the dice with a minute to go but Greece were able to hang on for a memorable win.
Leo Kriketos and Paul Salamakis never stopped trying with some much needed vital hit-ups while Mick Alexander launched himself in defence coming up with a beauty of a tackle in the second half. Mousavasilis who was born in Greece stepped up to the mark when injuries hit the team.
"Our defence in the first half won it for us. The players showed plenty of character to lift themselves when we received injuries to some of our key players" said Georgallis.
Greek RL Patron George Peponis was a special guest in the dressing rooms after the game.
The Greeks will now concentrate on taking on Italy in the Ionio Cup on October 2 as well as holding a Greek RL dinner on Friday october 8 at the Barclay Reception Lounge.
Report from RUGBY LEAGUE REVIEW
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