CATALANS DRAGONS 34 BRADFORD BULLS 24
RICKY WILBY, Stade Gilbert Brutus, Saturday

CATALANS made it two successive wins as they avenged their early-season defeat at Bradford in a sweltering Perpignan as temperatures hit 30 degrees.

Both sides traded tries in the opening quarter before things settled down and the heat took its toll on the visitors.

The Dragons, guided here by Lewis Dodd, have now won three from four under coach John Cartwright.

Catalans hit the front in the sixth minute. Pouncing on an error from Ethan Ryan, the ball was sent to the left and Toby Sexton and Dodd combined to send Zac Lipowicz over. Guillermo Aispuro-Bichet added the first of five conversions.

Bradford levelled the scores four minutes later, a Catalans error giving field position to the visitors before Jayden Nikorima sent Ryan Sutton charging over the top of Sexton to score to the left of the posts. Chris Atkin added the conversion.

It was a tale of errors for both sides, another Bulls mistake gifting Catalans the opportunity to attack. Kruise Leeming picked up from acting half and sent Josh Allen over for his first Catalans try.

A Nikorima break down the middle of the field enabled Waqa Blake to send Ryan over in the corner with a spectacular finish. Atkin missed the conversion to leave the Bulls 12-10 behind.

Two consecutive penalties for Catalans saw them camp on the Bradford line and another short ball from Leeming sent Julian Bousquet charging over to the left of the posts.

With six minutes remaining to the break, they thought they had further extended their lead as Ben Condon went close only to lose possession of the ball just as he reached out to score.

But two minutes later they had their fourth try as a smart grubber to the in-goal area was collected and touched down by Solomona Faataape.

Aispuro-Bichet’s only missed conversion, from the left-hand side, meant the hosts’ half-time lead was 22-10.

Bradford started well in the second half with Connor Wynne winning a race to the ball from Atkin’s high kick that bounced off the head of Tommy Makinson and into the in-goal area. Atkin hit the post with the conversion attempt.

But from the restart a Bradford error allowed Catalans to attack their line and a smart run-around play between Leeming and Tevita Satae saw the Catalans rake score down the left edge.

Nikorima thought he had scored against his former team only for the try to be pulled back for Guy Armitage putting his foot in touch earlier in the play.

Ryan also had a try ruled out 18 minutes from time, the Bradford winger ruled offside from Atkin’s grubber through.

The Bulls were back in the game with twelve minutes remaining, when the ball was sent to the left and Wynne raced down the touchline before chipping ahead and Caleb Aekins collected and touched down under the posts. Riley Dean added the conversion to take the score to 28-10.

But a spectacular response by Charlie Staines, scoring from inside his own half, ended any real comeback hopes, even if Wynne grabbed a second try two minutes from time, Dean missing the goal.

GAMESTAR: Lewis Dodd had a hand in most of the Catalans tries and was scheming and creating throughout.

GAMEBREAKER: Charlie Staines’ try six minutes from time secured the two points for the home side.

HIGHLIGHT REEL: Charlie Staines collected the ball 30 metres from his own tryline and raced the distance to score late on.

ALBERT GOLDTHORPE POINTS
3 pts Lewis Dodd (Catalans)
2 pts Kruise Leeming (Catalans)
1 pt Charlie Staines (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: Lipowicz (6), Allen (13), Bousquet (26), Faataape (36), Leeming (47), Staines (74)
Goals: Aispuro-Bichet 5/6

BULLS
1 Caleb Aekins
23 Connor Wynne
24 Guy Armitage
4 Waqa Blake
5 Ethan Ryan
6 Jayden Nikorima
32 Chris Atkin
8 Ryan Sutton
9 Andy Ackers
15 Eribe Doro
11 Dan Russell
34 Phoenix Steinwede
13 Joe Mellor
Subs (all used)
16 Ebon Scurr
19 Will Gardiner
25 Eliot Peposhi
38 Riley Dean
18th man (not used)
22 Luke Hooley
Also in 20-man-squad
14 Mitch Souter
18 Jack Ormondroyd

Tries: Sutton (10), Ryan (17), Wynne (44, 78), Aekins (68)
Goals: Atkin 1/3, Dean 1/2

SCORING SEQUENCE: 6-0, 6-6, 12-6, 12-10, 18-10, 22-10; 22-14, 28-14, 28-20, 34-20, 34-24

Rugby Leaguer & League Express Men of the Match
Dragons: Lewis Dodd; Bulls: Caleb Aekins

Penalty count: 4-5
Half-time: 22-10
Referee: Matty Lynn
Attendance: 8,122