NOUMEA: Territorial champion JS Traput came close to an upset over division d’honneur side Mont Dore in the first round of the New Caledonia championship semi-final playoff series on the weekend.

Mont Dore were able to secure a come from behind 1-2 win over JS Traput but for large periods of the game were dominated by their less fancied opponents. In the other semi-final first round encounter, Magenta powered past JS Baco 5-2.

One other match was played between Olympique and USC to decide the relegated teams to first division/ The match ended in a 4-4 draw thus meaning Kouaoua and Olympique would be relegated from the division d’honneur to the first division for the 2004-05 season.

Division d’honneur Championship semi-finals

JS Traput – AS Mont-Dore 1 – 2

AS Magenta – JS Baco 5 – 2

Division d’honneur (Premier League)

Catch up match

Olympique – USC 4 – 4

FINAL POINTS TABLE

Teams Pts P W D L F A diff

1. AS Magenta 64 18 15 1 2 67 26 +41

2. Mont-Dore 59 18 13 2 3 33 13 +20

3. JS Baco 55 18 12 1 5 43 28 +15

4. AS Poum 53 18 11 2 5 42 35 +7

5. Gaitcha FCN 45 18 8 3 7 31 38 -7

6. AS Auteuil 37 18 5 4 9 37 45 -8

7. ACB Poya 35 18 5 2 11 35 35 0

8. USC 32 18 3 5 10 28 36 -8

9. Kouaoua 32 18 4 2 12 25 51 -26

10. Olympique 26 18 2 2 14 27 61 -34