CATALANS DRAGONS thrashed Wigan Warriors in an emphatic fashion in the second fixture of Super League’s Magic Weekend.
Catalans’ Arthur Mourgue slotted over a penalty early on before Jake Wardle crossed for the first try of the game on nine minutes. Harry Smith missed the conversion as Wigan led 4-2.
Four Dragons tries in 15 minutes, however, took the game away from the Warriors as Sam Tomkins, Tom Johnstone, Matt Whitley and Arthur Mourgue made it 24-4.
Wigan did finally stem the tide shortly before half-time when Bevan French dived for the line, but again Smith couldn’t convert with Catalans leading 24-8 at the break.
Things got worse for the Warriors after half-time as Johnstone leapt highest for a Tomkins kick to grab his second. Mourgue converted to make it 30-8.
It continued to be one-way traffic with Whitley going over for his second on 50 minutes with Wigan falling further behind when Arthur Romano dived over moments later. Mourgue converted both to make it 42-8.
Johnstone finished acrobatically for a wonderful hat-trick shortly after, though Abbas Miski crossed to give Wigan fans something to cheer about before the end. Smith again couldn’t convert, though, as Catalans led 46-12.
However, the Warriors were handed an eight-point try and this time Smith converted from in front, with Liam Marshall dotting down from a Smith kick with four minutes to go. This time Jai Field couldn’t convert as the Dragons held a 46-18 lead.
On the hooter, Morgan Smithies down a Johnstone howler with the winger knocking on over his own line. Smith missed again with the conversion, however, as Catalans ran out 46-22 winners.
Wigan Warriors
2 Bevan French
23 Abbas Miski
3 Toby King
4 Jake Wardle
5 Liam Marshall
1 Jai Field
7 Harry Smith
15 Kaide Ellis
9 Sam Powell
10 Liam Byrne
13 Morgan Smithies
12 Liam Farrell
19 Joe Shorrocks
Substitutes
6 Cade Cust
20 Patrick Mago
26 Harvie Hill
27 Junior Nsemba
Tries: Wardle, French, Miski, Marshall, Smithies
Goals: Smith 1/5, Field 0/1
Catalans Dragons
1 Arthur Mourgue
5 Fouad Yaha
21 Matt Ikuvalu
19 Arthur Romano
24 Tom Johnstone
7 Mitchell Pearce
29 Sam Tomkins
22 Siosiua Taukeiaho
9 Michael McIllorum
16 Romain Navarrete
11 Matt Whitley
8 Mike McMeeken
13 Ben Garcia
Substitutes
6 Tyrone May
10 Julian Bousquet
12 Paul Seguier
23 Jordan Dezaria
Tries: Tomkins, Johnstone 3, Whitley 2, Mourgue, Romano
Goals: Mourgue 7/9
Half-time: 8-24
Referee: Liam Moore