CATALANS DRAGONS 26 HULL KR 20
RICKY WILBY, Stade Gilbert Brutus, Saturday

LENNY MARC produced a last-gasp try for Catalans as they secured two vital points over stumbling champions Hull KR.

The Dragons led 20-6 before Rovers rallied in the final quarter to level.

But the result was snatched when Solomona Faataape broke away down the left and laid on the try for Marc to score the match-winning try two minutes from the end.

It justified the decision of coach Joel Tomkins to keep 19-year-old Marc in the line-up following his hat-trick against Oldham in the Challenge Cup the previous weekend.

Catalans were boosted by the returns of Lewis Dodd, Nick Cotric, Julian Bousquet and captain Ben Garcia.

Hull KR had ex-Dragon Tyrone May making his 100th Super League appearance, and he benefited from a quick play-the-ball in the eighth minute by Elliot Minchella as Jez Litten found May who touched down to the left of the posts.

Mikey Lewis added the conversion to give the visitors an early six-point advantage.

Catalans levelled six minutes later, a Charlie Staines offload and smart play by Dodd providing for Zac Lipowicz as Toby Sexton converted to level.

The home side lost three players midway through the first half. Matthieu Laguerre came off with an ankle injury while Josh Allen and the returning Bousquet both failed their head-injury assessments.

However, they took the lead in the 32nd minute, Sexton successfully kicking a penalty after Rovers were found to be offside close to their own line.

Three minutes before half-time, Lipowicz added his second try. A charge by Tevita Satae set up field position for Catalans to attack and Sexton found Lipowicz who touched down in the left corner.

Sexton added the conversion from the touchline to give the hosts a 14-6 lead at the break.

Catalans came out for the second half with attacking intent, only failing to score thanks to great defence from Joe Burgess and Peta Hiku.

Short of the hour they extended their lead. Alrix Da Costa dummied one way and went the other, handing on to French prop Romain Navarrete who charged over to the left of the posts with Sexton’s conversion taking the score to 20-6.

With 16 minutes remaining, Hull KR came back into the game, sparked by a move left to Joe Burgess who raced away from Cotric and then went around the outside of Staines to score in the corner. Lewis again converted to reduce the Dragons’ lead to eight points.

Catalans were running out of steam with the lack of players on their bench and the Robins smelt blood. May was again involved, his smart grubber on the last tackle to the in-goal area pounced on by Tom Amone.

Lewis converted from in front of the posts to bring the score to 20-18 and set up a nail-biting finish.

Rovers levelled the score with four minutes remaining, Lewis converting from 20 metres out after Cotric was penalised for a high tackle on Litten.

But Marc’s heroics in the 78th minute secured a deserved win for the home side, Sexton adding the conversion for a six-point margin.

GAMESTAR: Alrix Da Costa laid a solid platform for Catalans in his first spell before returning and playing a combination of loose-forward and hooker, laying on Romain Navarrete’s try.

GAMEBREAKER: Lenny Marc’s last-gasp try was a thrilling end to a great game.

HIGHLIGHT REEL: Tevita Satae left Hull KR defenders trailing in his wake as he set up Zac Lipowicz’s second try.

ALBERT GOLDTHORPE POINTS
3 pts Alrix Da Costa (Catalans)
2 pts Tyrone May (Hull KR)
1 pt Ben Garcia (Catalans)

MATCHFACTS

DRAGONS
1 Charlie Staines
3 Nick Cotric
14 Phoenix Laulu-Togaga’e
4 Solomona Faataape
25 Lenny Marc
6 Toby Sexton
7 Lewis Dodd
16 Josh Allen
9 Alrix Da Costa
17 Romain Navarrete
20 Zac Lipowicz
21 Matthieu Laguerre
13 Ben Garcia
Subs (all used)
8 Tevita Satae
10 Julian Bousquet
19 Kruise Leeming
31 Tiaki Chan
18th man (used)
18 Harvey Wilson
Also in 21-man squad
12 Ben Condon
15 Iszac Fa’asuamaleaui
24 Guillermo Aispuro-Bichet

Tries: Lipowicz (14, 37), Navarrete (58), Marc (78)
Goals: Sexton 5/5

HULL KR
14 Jack Broadbent
2 Tom Davies
3 Peta Hiku
4 Oliver Gildart
5 Joe Burgess
6 Mikey Lewis
7 Tyrone May
8 Sauaso Sue
9 Jez Litten
11 Dean Hadley
29 Tom Whitehead
12 James Batchelor
13 Elliot Minchella
Subs (all used)
10 Tom Amone
15 Sam Luckley
16 Jai Whitbread
22 Bill Leyland
18th man (not used)
21 Noah Booth
Also in 21-man-squad
18 Jack Brown
20 Jordan Dezaria
24 Jack Charles

Tries: May (8), Burgess (64), Amone (72)
Goals: Lewis 4/4

SCORING SEQUENCE: 0-6, 6-6, 8-6, 14-6; 20-6, 20-12, 20-18, 20-20, 26-20

Rugby Leaguer & League Express Men of the Match
Dragons: Alrix Da Costa; Hull KR: Tyrone May

Penalty count: 4-3
Half-time: 14-6
Referee: Jack Smith
Attendance: 8,156