Catalans Edge Out Leigh To Return To Winning Ways

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Leigh (6) 16


Tries: Niu 2, Senior Goals: Cook 2


Catalans (6) 22


Tries: Wilson, Staines, Dodd Goals: Sexton 5


Catalans Dragons went back to winning methods following back-to-back Super League beats with a narrow victory at Leigh Leopards.


Tries from Harvey Wilson, Charlie Staines and Lewis Dodd breathed new fire into the Dragons following disappointing defeats by St Helens and Bradford Bulls in their past two matches.


Tesi Niu scored 2 excellent tries for Leigh, either side of winger Innes Senior's rating, however it showed to be in vain for the hosts.


Leigh have now lost 3 Super League matches in a row and will need to see an enhancement in efficiencies if they are to be in the play-off shake-up again this year.


The visitors' preparation for the match was struck when a mechanical fault on their aircraft from Perpignan required them to make an emergency landing in Bordeaux, suggesting their journey to Greater Manchester took 16 hours to complete.


And they were dealt an additional blow before kick-off when winger Tommy Makinson selected up an injury in the warm-up and needed to be replaced in the starting line-up by Leo Darrelatour.


In the 8th minute, Leigh capitalized when outstanding hands from Lachlan Lam enabled stand-in full-back Gareth O'Brien to discover Senior, who raced clear before setting up Niu to slide in for an excellent group try. Adam Cook added the additionals magnificently from the touchline.


Lam was then adjudged to have actually obstructed off Nick Cotric's efforts to challenge for a high ball, and after Catalans were granted another set of 6 deep in Leigh area, Wilson discussed determinedly for his first Super League shot of the season under the sticks.


Catalans then went close to taking the lead before the break but Darrelatour was pushed into touch when attempting to score in the left corner.


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Moments after the reboot, Toby Sexton kicked Catalans into a minor advantage in front of the sticks after Liam Horne was discovered guilty of a ball steal.


A lovely offload from Wigan Warriors loanee Kruise Leeming - one of 11 new signings from last season in Catalans' matchday squad - allowed Sexton to charge forward before he discovered Staines, who completed an extraordinary relocation from close range.


Catalans' two-score lead lasted less than 5 minutes though as O'Brien found Niu and he passed to winger Senior, who dived over in the left corner unopposed.


A no-look pass from Lam then went loose and was struck upon by Darrelatour. He raced 80 yards and intelligently recycled the ball before Sexton found fellow half-back Dodd for an important third try for the away side.


With 15 minutes left, Niu pulled off the minute of the match, choosing the ball up deep in his own half, avoiding a difficulty from Cotric, before deceiving Staines with outstanding footwork to dive over for a fantastic private score.


In the passing away moments, Leigh overdid the pressure in their quest to discover a winning rating, however exceptional defending from the Dragons dispatched their attempts, and the visitors put the seal on the win through Sexton's 5th effective kick shortly before the hooter sounded.


'We lacked club's DNA' - response


"Frustrating once again tonight. We had lots of chances once again to win that video game but it just felt like it was never ever truly in our favour the whole time.


"There were turning points like the intercept attempt. [If] we nail the ability there, we score the shot and we most likely win the video game - that was most likely the most aggravating part.


"It's [been] a hard night. There was lots of effort but we did not have the game-sense. It's difficult to view sometimes and we're struggling to put together 2 to 3 sets of attacks.


"We only had 19 [players] to choose from however that's not an excuse. We did not have the DNA people as a club.


"We couldn't score points when we needed them most and that's what we did really well in 2015 so we're a long way behind our best at the minute".


Catalans Dragons head coach Joel Tomkins informed Sky Sports:


"I'm truly, really happy with the boys. They had a little a nightmare journey yesterday. The scramble, the desire and simply the work for each other, they never gave up, and I thought we got what we was worthy of tonight.


"We have actually got a few injuries at the minute, but what we have got is a group of lads who want to strive.


"We might not be the most experienced group, but they're going to come in and they're going to work hard for each other. On the back of that, they'll get results.


"In the week, we had some sincere discussions, and it's going to be a long season for us if we end up performances like we did last week. If we turn out performances like we did this evening, then it'll be an actually satisfying one."


[On his side's journey to Leigh:] "Obviously, its not perfect preparation but we never ever have ideal preparation - we balance 8 to 10 hours [of] travel [for away components]


"That belongs to playing for Catalans. It's a special group to be a part of - residing in the south of France and playing in the English Super League.


"We do not whinge about it, we utilize it as a connection piece for the group. We might do some connecting for a few more away video games if we turn up like that."


Leigh: O'Brien; Senior, Niu, Brand, Charnley; Cook, Lam; Trout, McNamara, Mulhern, Halton, Alick-Wiencke, Liu.


Interchanges: Hughes, Brown, Badrock, Horne.


Catalans: Staines; Darrelatour, Cotric, Faataape, Laulu-Togaga'e; Sexton, Dodd; Allen, Da Costa, Navarrete, Laguerre, Lipowicz, Wilson.


Interchanges: Satae, Condon, Leeming, Chan.