Greece produced a stunning six-try performance to blow away Bulgaria 41-18 in Alexandroupoli and revitalise their hopes of winning promotion from FIRA Group C.

Cheered on by over 2,000 spectators at the Municipal Stadium in the northern city, the Greek team responded with a performance which, if far from perfect, was dynamic and too strong for their visitors.

Four tries in the first half meant the game was all but over by half-time with the hosts leading 26-6.

But two more tries in a more even second half meant a terrific overall performance from Greece who will take confidence from the win.

Full-back Alex Mendoros scored a try, four conversions and a penalty to claim a personal tally of 16 points.

The outside centre Nikos Revelas, one of three new recruits from Wits University in Johannesburg, showed pace and a neat shimmy to grab two tries. All six tries came from the backs.

Captain Chris Fiotakis opened the scoring in the fifth minute. Mendoros launched a run down the left. When he was held up, the forward carried it forward another phase before the ball went pinging out to the right.

Fiotakis, one of the quickest men in Greece, had space outside and barely reached third gear to round the defence and touch down.

Mendoros missed the conversion but four minutes later he was on target to claim the extras after Revelas had gone through for his first try.

This was made by some sharp work by Georgos Tsatsaronis in the centre.

His pass sent Revelas away and his inside/outside bamboozled the Bulgarian full-back Hristian Ivanov and allowed to skip through for the try.

Ten minutes down and leading 12-0 Greece were off to a flyer but it could have gone wrong shortly after when Nikos Mavreas was sin-binned for a dangerous tackle. Petar Tsintsov kicked the penalty.

The Bulgarian forwards were keeping the ball in hand well as a rolling unit but Greece were fortunate that their guests were being overly polite about giving them the ball once they reached the danger zone. Twice Bulgaria chose not to kick for goal and went instead for the big prize and both times they messed it up badly.

Two minutes before the break, Revelas made a superb break down the right touchline. Keeping the ball alive Kouroumichakis took the ball down the left touch, lock Nikos Christodoulakis carried it on and then popped up a pass for fly-half Alexandros Gounaris to score.

Tsintov scored another penalty to make it 26-6 at the break.

The Bulgarians came out with a bit more in the second half and lock Borislav Borison bullied his way over from close range.

Greece hit back immediately with a delicious try from Mendoros. Mendoros had no difficulty in skating up the touchline past two Bulgarian tacklers.

Bulgaria came back again with a try from left wing Stoyan Tsenov but Greece had the last say when Revelas, revelling in his new surroundings, went through the defence to complete a great afternoon for Greece.