CATALANS DRAGONS 34 CASTLEFORD TIGERS 28
RICKY WILBY, Stade Gilbert Brutus, Saturday

CATALANS bounced back from last weekend’s heavy defeat against Wigan in Paris, overcoming a determined Castleford side in sweltering 30-degree conditions.

Lewis Dodd was at his creative best, with Tommy Makinson and Solomona Faataape in particular benefitting to the tune of two tries apiece, as John Cartwright made it two wins in three matches as coach.

Catalans made the perfect start, scoring two converted tries in the opening 13 minutes to establish a lead.

For the first, Guillermo Aispuro-Bichet sparked the attack with a half-break before Makinson collected Dodd’s kick to the left edge and crossed for the opening try.

Josh Allen thought he had extended the advantage moments later, but his effort was ruled out for a double movement.

The Dragons did not have to wait long for their second score, however, as Toby Sexton shifted the ball left before Dodd’s long pass found Makinson, who dived over in the corner.

Aispuro-Bichet added an excellent touchline conversion to his first, making it 12-0.

Castleford hit back midway through the half. Capitalising on a Catalans error, Phoenix Laulu-Togaga’e – returning to Perpignan after a mid-season move from the south of France – helped create space for Jason Qareqare to cross in the left corner. Tom Weaver was unable to convert.

The Dragons restored control five minutes later when Sexton’s flat pass at the line sent Franck Maria crashing over beneath the posts. Aispuro-Bichet converted to stretch the lead to 18-4.

Catalans threatened again before Julian Bousquet had a try ruled out for offside. From the resulting penalty, Castleford struck back as debutant Jack Brown powered over from close range after being put through by Deajarn Asi. Weaver converted to reduce the deficit to eight points.

Three minutes before the break, Dodd’s grubber kick caused confusion in the Castleford defence and Faataape reacted quickest to touch down on the left. Aispuro-Bichet was unable to add the extras.

Castleford had the final say of the half when Weaver slotted a penalty goal following a Catalans ball steal, sending the sides into the break with the Dragons leading 22-12.

Catalans started the second half in impressive fashion. Slick handling down the left involving Sexton, Charlie Staines, Faataape and Makinson ended with the winger kicking ahead for Sexton to gather and score to the left of the posts. Aispuro-Bichet converted to extend the lead.

Dodd continued to pull the strings behind a dominant forward platform and created Catalans’ next try with a perfectly-weighted grubber into the in-goal area. Faataape collected the ball and raced around behind the posts for his second try of the afternoon while Aispuro-Bichet’s conversion pushed the score out to 34-12.

While it may have come too late, Castleford refused to go away and posted three tries – two converted by Weaver – in the final quarter to make the scoreline respectable.

Just after the hour mark, Weaver’s miscued grubber kick trickled into the in-goal area, where Joe Stimson won the race to the ball and touched down beside the posts.

With nine minutes remaining, a penalty provided valuable field position and the ball was moved left through Weaver and Asi before reaching Krystian Mapapalangi, who drifted past his defender and sprinted over in the corner.

Both sides created opportunities in the closing stages, but handling errors and last-ditch defensive efforts prevented Castleford from giving the hosts a real scare.

Asi’s last-minute grubber was pounced on by Mapapalangi to narrow the margin of victory to six, but Catalans saw out the remaining seconds.

GAMESTAR: Lewis Dodd created three first-half tries for the home side and was at his creative best throughout.

GAMEBREAKER: Solomona Faataape’s second try, 26 minutes from time, gave the hosts a 22-point lead and left the Tigers a mountain that was just too big to climb.

HIGHLIGHT REEL: Toby Sexton’s try early in the second half saw slick handling from four Dragons and a smart kick from Tommy Makinson to see the Catalans extend their lead.

ALBERT GOLDTHORPE POINTS
3 pts Lewis Dodd (Catalans)
2 pts Solomona Faataape (Catalans)
1 pt Toby Sexton (Catalans)

MATCHFACTS

DRAGONS
1 Charlie Staines
2 Tommy Makinson
24 Guillermo Aispuro-Bichet
4 Solomona Faataape
3 Nick Cotric
6 Toby Sexton
7 Lewis Dodd
16 Josh Allen
19 Kruise Leeming
17 Romain Navarrete
11 Franck Maria
20 Zac Lipowicz
10 Julian Bousquet
Subs (all used)
8 Tevita Satae
12 Ben Condon
18 Harvey Wilson
21 Matthieu Laguerre
18th man (not used)
26 Ugo Tison
Also in 21-man squad
27 Clément Martin
28 Léo Darrélatour
30 Alexis Lis

Tries: Makinson (7, 13), Maria (25), Faataape (37, 54), Sexton (44)
Goals: Aispuro-Bichet 5/6

TIGERS
35 Phoenix Laulu-Togaga’e
21 Louis Senior
3 Zac Cini
23 Krystian Mapapalangi
22 Jason Qareqare
6 Daejarn Asi
7 Tom Weaver
13 Joe Stimson
31 Ashton Golding
36 Tyler Dupree
32 George Hirst
12 Alex Mellor
10 George Lawler
Subs (all used)
11 Jordan Lane
25 Sam Hall
27 Cain Robb
38 Jack Brown (D)
18th man (not used)
4 Darnell McIntosh
Also in 20-man-squad
8 Renouf Atoni
24 Jenson Windley

Tries: Qareqare (20), Brown (31), Stimson (63), Mapapalangi (71, 80)
Goals: Weaver 4/6

SCORING SEQUENCE: 6-0, 12-0, 12-4, 18-4, 18-10, 22-10, 22-12; 28-12, 34-12, 34-18, 34-22, 34-28

Rugby Leaguer & League Express Men of the Match
Dragons: Lewis Dodd; Tigers: Krystian Mapapalangi

Penalty count: 4-6
Half-time: 22-12
Referee: Liam Rush
Attendance: 7,722