Catalans Dragons secured a 33-20 victory over Leeds Rhinos this afternoon at the Stade Gilbert Brutus in Perpignan, which moves them up to ten points and tenth position in the Super League table, just one point outside the top eight.
The injury-hit Rhinos, coming into the game on the back of a Magic Weekend defeat to Castleford, are still on 15 points and are in danger of losing touch with the top four.
The Dragons built up an impressive 17-4 lead at half-time with tries from Greg Bird, Benjamin Garcia and Michael McIlorum, and they were unlucky to have a try by Tony Gigot turned down by the video referee for offside.
The Rhinos replied through Ash Handley and in the second half they threatened to take over, coming back to 17-14 with tries to Brett Ferres and Ryan Hall, with the first being converted by Jordan Lilley, who had been recalled to the Leeds side to partner Richie Myler in response to their injury crisis.
The Dragons were able to ride the storm, however, and they scored further tries through Gigot, Josh Drinkwater and Jodie Broughton, while the Rhinos responded with a fourth try in the last minute by Brad Dwyer, with Lilley adding the conversion.
Dragons: 31 Tony Gigot, 2 Jodie Broughton, 1 David Mead, 4 Brayden Wiliame, 20 Lewis Tierney, 13 Greg Bird, 33 Josh Drinkwater, 15 Mickael Simon, 19 Michael Mcilorum, 10 Sam Moa, 21 Benjamin Jullien, 12 Benjamin Garcia, 8 Remi Casty; Subs: 11 Louis Anderson, 14 Julian Bousquet, 23, Antoni Maria, 32 Mickael Goudemand
Tries: Bird, Garcia, McIlorum, Gigot, Drinkwater, Broughton; Goals: Drinkwater; Field Goal: Gigot
Rhinos: 34 Jack Walker, 2 Tom Briscoe, 18 Jimmy Keinhorst, 22 Ash Handley, 5 Ryan Hall, 25 Jordan Lilley, 7 Richie Myler, 28 Mikolaj Oledzki, 14 Brad Dwyer, 8 Adam Cuthbertson, 13 Stevie Ward, 19 Brett Ferres, 15 Brett Delaney; Subs: 1 Ashton Golding, 23 Jack Ormondroyd, 27 Cameron Smith, 30 Josh Walters
Tries: Handley, Ferres, Hall, Dwyer; Goals: Lilley 2
A full report and photos from this game will feature in Monday’s edition of League Express