Attica Springboks kept up their bid for the Greek championship with a 48-20 win over Athens rivals Spartans in an exciting game at Glyka Nera in round 4.

Attica remain in second place in the table with ten points, two behind leaders Athens.

Attica ran in seven tries - two each for wing Sotiris Stergioulis and flanker Giannis Paschalidis - as they took a grip on the game in the second half.

The conditions were good for an open game although the early decision to play uncontested scrums did much to diminish the power of the Attica pack.

It was Spartans  indeed, who drew first blood, capitalising on some sluggish Attica defence to score the first try after just two minutes.

The two sides then swapped penalties before Springboks hit back with the first of two tries from left-wing Stergioulis. Eight minutes into the game, it stood at 8-8.

Inside centre Alexis Sparacello put Attica ahead with a second try, this time converted by Mike Henderson - who ended the day with a 13-point haul - but Spartans came back with a try of their own. The conversion missed which meant Springboks led 15-13 at the break.

In the second half, however, the power of the Attica forwards began to tell and they took control of the game with further tries coming from Stergioulis, replacement prop Nathanael Courcelle, Paschalidis number eight Vincent Peducasse.

Trailing 41-13, Spartans collected a third try shortly before the whistle but there was still time for Pachalidis to touch down for his second.