A win for Greece in their final match on Saturday will secure them the European U19s Shield, after the second round of games at the CREPS Font Romeu high performance facility in the Pyrenees, France yesterday (Wednesday).
The Greeks were victorious over Canada, 36-18, fullback Bailey-Dean Latanis with two tries in seven minutes late on to secure the spoils. Greece head coach, Jim Pizanias, commented: “I’m very pleased with the performance, we’d worked on our defence from the Ireland game and that showed.
“We had Canada camped on our line for several minutes without them scoring. The boys have dug deep today and I’m very proud of them. A win against Norway will secure us the European Shield – we’ll be doing plenty of recovery between now and then, taking a bit of time out with the families who have travelled.
“We’ll be using this to further progress youth participation in Greece and come back to the next tournament with even more players from our domestic competition.”
Canada were in contention for most of the contest but lacked a cutting edge at times.
Ireland made a blistering start in their game with Norway, 42-0 ahead at half time, going on to win 64-16 after a more even second period. Winger Aaron Corbett claimed a hat trick of first half tries and Bobby Barton 22 points.
“We left too many opportunities out there in the Greece game so were determined to make up for that, and scored some good tries out wide on the back of impressive handling,” said Ireland head coach, Dave Merrick.
“We’ll get some down time and then Friday be back on it for the final match.”
Round 3 fixtures - Saturday 18 July
Greece v Norway (kick off 10am, local time)
Canada v Ireland (kick off midday)
Round 2 results
Canada 18
Oliver Lenahan, Jacob Williams, Jack Shortis, Michael Tsoutsis, Leon Bansen, Rory Jago, Jack Smart, Brady Nooski, Elliot Barton, Bogdan Dimitrijevic, Noah Bolton, Alex Paddle, Blake Marshall
Interchanges: Torin Brooks, Tobias Mennie, Alex Dymock, Patricio Asomoza Estrada
Tries: Lenahan (22), Barton (31), Marshall (71), Bansen (77)
Goals: Lenahan 1/4, Jago 0/1
Greece 36
Bailey-Dean Latanis, Basili Tzitzivakos, Dean Tsavaris, Timur Agostini-Leland, Kostas Grivas tzimopoulos, Ethan Tsiamis, Lucas Hanmer, Peter Papoulis, Zac Papa, Peter Kokontis, Jonathan Siambis, Alex Jelenkovic, William Giovas
Interchanges: Ethan Tsiamis, Theodoros Tipene,Alex Mcgrath, Vasilis Karageorgiou
Tries: Tsavaris (2), Papa (4), Hanmer (14), Tsiamis (36), Giovas (57), Latanis (61, 68)
Goals: Latanis 0/2, Tsiamis 0/1, Hanmer 4/4
Sin Bin: Papoulis (20 – dangerous contract)
Referee: Petar Randjelović (Sebia)
Half Time: 10-18
Norway 16
Silas Mjølhus, Matias Tjemsland, Kristoffer Gradert, William Giddings, Filip Naparty, Joshua Silverstone-Utheim, Hakon Sivertsen Lauvsnes, Arian Harbas, Tobias Auno, Odinn Numason, Dag Hansen, Trygve Hansen, Valentine Mjolhus
Interchanges: Tobias Andresen-Langaas, Filip Boe, Theodor Eidsaune Chongdee, Iver Sivertsen Lauvsnes
Tries: Silverstone-Utheim (46), Giddings (52), Silversten Lauvsnes (68)
Goals: Silversten Lauvsnes 2/3
Sin Bin: Giddings (58 – high tackle), Mjolhus (78 – kicking)
Ireland 64
Finn Maguire, Ethan Whyte, Samuel Douglas, Mitch Ireland, Aaron Corbett, Bobby Barton, Michael Walsh, Wilfred Taylor, Theo-Cole Cyprien, Charlie Sweeney, Tiernan Conway, Donncha Fee, Jack Brown
Interchanges: Matthew Toothill, Richie Whelan, Joseph Gill, Oisin Carroll
Tries: Corbett (2, 28, 36), Ireland (6), Brown (9, 73), Barton (16, 60), Douglas (25), Whyte (32), Fee (39), Gill (58)
Goals; Barton 7/10, Maguire 1/1, Douglas 0/1
Referee: Kemoy Whyte (Jamaica)
Half Time: 0-42