20 weeks. 140 days. 3360 hours. That’s how long Super League has been non-existent in our lives but the competition, although not how we remember, has officially resumed with no fans, no scrums, no transatlantic Toronto and a new ‘six again’ rule.
James Graham made his eagerly anticipated return to his hometown club and Arthur Mourgue, following Sam Tomkins suspension, was given an opportunity at full-back.
After a penalty goal, Lachlan Coote would capture the first Super League score in four months. Zeb Taia received a pass from Jonny Lomax and found Coote in support with a sublime inside ball.
Coote was instrumental for their next four-pointer, which came on 25 minutes, when he poked through a perfectly-judged grubber for James Bentley, who out-chased Fouad Yaha, in the in-goal.
The two men who assisted Saints’ first would link up once more as Lomax executed an impeccable short ball to Taia. Coote added the extras, which left Catalans in a substantial 16-point deficit at the break.
HT: Saints 16-0 Catalans
It was an incredible passage of play for the first score following the resumption, which started with a Louie McCarthy-Scarsbrook line break and offload to Lomax. The half-back accelerated towards the line and passed to Taia, who later found Coote in support with an inside ball.
On the 53rd minute, Makinson held off three challenges from Catalans and broke through a gap to score.
Les Dracs scored a consolation with a quarter remaining, when James Maloney darted through a defensive gap untouched.
Walmsley capped off an outstanding performance as his power and determination left Julian Bousquet seeing stars.
FT: Saints 34-6 Catalans
Saints: Coote, Makinson, Naiqama, Percival, Grace, Lomax, Fages, Walmsley, Roby, Graham, Taia, Bentley, Knowles; Subs: McCarthy-Scarsbrook, Amor, Batchelor, Smith
Tries: Coote (15, 44), Bentley (25), Taia (31), Makinson (52), Walmsley (70) Goals: Coote 5/7
Dragons: Mourgue, Davies, Langi, Folau, Yaha, Maloney, Drinkwater, Casty, McIlorum, Bousquet, Whitley, J. Tomkins, Garcia; Subs: Moa, Da Costa, Baitieri, Kasiano
Tries: Maloney (60) Goals: Maloney 1/1
A full match report from this fixture will be available in Monday’s League Express.
