PSG play-off hopes dealt blow by Perth

Perth 30 Paris St Germain 1

Mistakes cost Paris dear in their final Pool B World Club Championship match yesterday and if they are to go further they must rely on the failures of others. In order for Paris to qualify for the wild card play-off Leeds must lose by more than three points at home to North Queensland and Sheffield lose to Hunter in Australia on Sunday.

Perth got off to a great start when they scored after 90 seconds. The Paris loose forward David Lomax failed to take what looked an easy pass from Matt O'Connor and the ball bounced into the waiting arms of Greg Fleming who strolled 30 metres to score under the posts, giving Shaun Devine an easy task to convert. Two successive penalties to Perth found the opposition at sixes and sevens and the home side extended their lead as Matt Fuller crossed for a try. Devine's kick made it 12 points in 12 minutes.

PSG put their first points on the board with a 23rd-minute penalty from O'Connor and seven minutes before half-time they scored their first try. Despite the attention of two defenders Joe Taylor off-loaded to Phil Bergman who raced 35 metres to score. O'Connor added the conversion to reduce the deficit to four points.

Paris were never as close again and right on half-time Fuller scored his second try which Devine converted.

Three minutes into the second half Perth went further ahead when Devine added another penalty and Jason Martin regathered his own kick-and-chase for a try five minutes later.

Paris then gifted Perth another try after 52 minutes. Devine's up-and- under confused the defence and Pierre Shamorin punched the ball towards the dead-ball line but watched in horror as Chris Ryan dived on it to score.

Under constant pressure the Paris defence cracked in the 69th minute when Matt Geyer found the space required to score. With Devine off, Damian Chapman successfully took over the kicking duties.

Perth: Matthew Geyer; Brady-Smith, Ryan, Fleming, Wilshire; Devine, Rodwell; Kearns, Fuller, Green, Evans, Higgins, Millar. Substitutes: Mark Geyer, Fritz, Sapatu, Chapman.

Paris St Germain: Bird; Chamorin, Evans, Eade, Bergman; O'Connor, Martin; Hancock, Menkins, Sing, Bellamy, Peters, Lomax. Substitutes: Devecchi, Taylor, O'Donnell, Hogue.

Referee: T Mander (Aus).