CATALANS DRAGONS 26 HUDDERSFIELD GIANTS 10
RICKY WILBY, Stade Gilbert Brutus, Friday

CATALANS’ new spine of Charlie Staines, Toby Sexton and man of the match Lewis Dodd proved crucial as they made a winning start to their 20th anniversary season in Super League.

Weather in Perpignan was uncharacteristically poor in the days ahead of the game with winds reaching 100mph and heavy rain posing difficulties at Stade Gilbert Brutus.

Staines and Josh Allen were debutants for the Dragons after missing their Challenge Cup victory at Batley while Huddersfield made one change from Hunslet, Harry Rushton coming in for the injured Adam Swift.

The opening stages of the game saw both sides cancel each other out as they tried to overcome the conditions, Catalans coming closest to scoring in the 13th minute when Ben Condon failed to take in a short pass five metres away from the Huddersfield line.

It was Condon who did open the scoring four minutes later when Dodd darted across the Huddersfield line and looked to be heading towards the right touchline before putting in a neat grubber to the in-goal. Condon won the race to touch down ahead of the covering George Flanagan, and Sexton added the conversion.

The hosts were dominant, Dodd forcing a goal-line drop-out and Solomona Faataape managing to get over the line, but a great tackle from Flanagan prevented the Catalans centre from extending their lead.

At least they didn’t until the 29th minute, when a penalty for stripping the ball from Ben Garcia in front of the posts gave Sexton an opportunity to make it 8-0.

Huddersfield were their own worst enemy at times, on the half-hour gifting the home side good field position and this time the Dragons managed to take full advantage. The ball sent to the left via Dodd, Sexton and Kruise Leeming, eventually finding its way to Staines who dummied wide and stepped inside before diving over score. Sexton converted and the Catalans lead was 14 points.

Five minutes before the break Oliver Russell was sent to the sin bin by referee Aaron Moore for slowing down a play-the-ball, however despite the man disadvantage, the Giants were next to score, attacking down their right edge and Tui Lolohea sending Sam Halsall away down the right to dive in the corner.

Flanagan’s goal attempt from the touchline drifted across the posts and the score at the break was 14-4.

Sexton went close three minutes into the second half, held up by Sam Hewitt. It formed a pattern of play for the first quarter of an hour of the half, of Catalans almost continually attacking the Huddersfield line.

Julian Bousquet, Leeming and Sexton again all went close, but scrambling defence prevented the Dragons from doing further damage.

But the pressure did eventually tell as the home side worked the ball down the left. Dodd’s miss pass to Faataape saw the centre break clear of a would-be tackle and find an offload to Tommy Makinson who touched down in the corner. Sexton added the conversion to give the Dragons a 20-4 lead.

Flanagan brought the visitors back into the game with 13 minutes remaining. Buoyed by a break and a six-again, the Giants attacked down the left, where Lolohea’s grubber towards the posts was chased and collected by Flanagan who touched down and then converted to reduce the deficit to ten points.

Faataape tied up victory for the home side six minutes from time as he raced between Lolohea and Taane Milne to score down the right edge, and Sexton completed a perfect record from the tee.

GAMESTAR: Lewis Dodd has settled in well to life in the south of France, recreating some of his best form, and he had a hand in almost everything Catalans did well in attack.

GAMEBREAKER: Tommy Makinson’s try 18 minutes from time gave the hosts a 16-point lead and essentially secured the win for the Dragons.

HIGHLIGHT REEL: Lewis Dodd’s hand in creating the first try was exquisite – the grubber through the line timed and angled to perfection.

ALBERT GOLDTHORPE POINTS
3 pts Lewis Dodd (Catalans)
2 pts Ben Garcia (Catalans)
1 pt Charlie Staines (Catalans)

MATCHFACTS

DRAGONS
1 Charlie Staines (D)
2 Tommy Makinson
3 Nick Cotric
4 Solomona Faataape
22 Josh Simm
6 Toby Sexton
7 Lewis Dodd
16 Josh Allen (D)
9 Alrix Da Costa
17 Romain Navarrete
20 Zac Lipowicz
12 Ben Condon
13 Ben Garcia
Subs (all used)
8 Tevita Satae
10 Julian Bousquet
15 Iszac Fa’asuamaleaui
19 Kruise Leeming
18th man (not used)
21 Matthieu Laguerre
Also in 21-man squad
14 Phoenix Laulu-Togaga’e
18 Harvey Wilson
28 Léo Darrélatour

Tries: Condon (17), Staines (32), Makinson (62), Faataape (74)
Goals: Sexton 5/5

GIANTS
21 George Flanagan
3 Jacob Gagai
12 Sam Hewitt
4 Taane Milne
5 Sam Halsall
6 Tui Lolhea
32 Oliver Russell
23 Chris Patolo
9 Zac Woolford
17 Joe Greenwood
11 Asher O’Donnell
13 Harry Rushton
8 Tristan Powell
Subs (all used)
10 Tom Burgess
15 Matty English
16 George King
20 Mathieu Cozza
18th man (not used)
18 Kieran Rush
Also in 21-man-squad
2 Adam Swift
22 Jack Billington
24 Connor Carr

Tries: Halsall (39), Flanagan (67)
Goals: Flanagan 1/2
Sin bin: Russell (35) – professional foul

SCORING SEQUENCE: 6-0, 8-0, 14-0, 14-4; 20-4, 20-10, 26-10

Rugby Leaguer & League Express Men of the Match
Dragons: Lewis Dodd; Giants: George Flanagan

Penalty count: 4-3
Half-time: 14-4
Referee: Aaron Moore
Attendance: 7,252