Catalans Edge Out Leigh To Go Back 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 returned to winning methods following back-to-back Super League defeats with a narrow success at Leigh Leopards.


Tries from Harvey Wilson, Charlie Staines and Lewis Dodd breathed brand-new fire into the Dragons following frustrating beats by St Helens and Bradford Bulls in their past 2 matches.


Tesi Niu scored two fantastic shots for Leigh, either side of winger Innes Senior's score, however it proved to be in vain for the hosts.


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


The visitors' preparation for the match was hit when a mechanical fault on their airplane from Perpignan required them to make an emergency situation landing in Bordeaux, implying their journey to Greater Manchester took 16 hours to finish.


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


In the eighth minute, Leigh capitalized when excellent hands from Lachlan Lam allowed stand-in full-back Gareth O'Brien to find Senior, who raced clear before establishing Niu to slide in for an excellent group try. Adam Cook included the additionals wonderfully from the touchline.


Lam was then adjudged to have actually blocked off Nick Cotric's attempts to challenge for a high ball, and after Catalans were granted another set of 6 deep in Leigh territory, Wilson went over determinedly for his very 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 trying to score in the left corner.


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Moments after the reboot, Toby Sexton kicked Catalans into a slight benefit in front of the sticks after Liam Horne was found guilty of a ball steal.


A gorgeous offload from Wigan Warriors loanee Kruise Leeming - among 11 brand-new finalizings from last season in Catalans' matchday squad - permitted Sexton to charge forward before he found Staines, who finished a remarkable move from close quarters.


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 pounced upon by Darrelatour. He raced 80 yards and smartly recycled the ball before Sexton found fellow half-back Dodd for a vital 3rd shot for the away side.


With 15 minutes left, Niu managed the moment of the match, choosing the ball up deep in his own half, skipping a difficulty from Cotric, before tricking Staines with outstanding footwork to dive over for a fantastic specific rating.


In the dying minutes, Leigh overdid the pressure in their quest to find a winning rating, but excellent protecting from the Dragons snuffed out their efforts, and the visitors put the seal on the win through Sexton's fifth successful kick soon before the hooter sounded.


'We did not have club's DNA' - reaction


"Frustrating again tonight. We had lots of opportunities again to win that game however it just seemed like it was never ever truly in our favour the whole time.


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


"It's [been] a difficult night. There was plenty of effort but we did not have the game-sense. It's difficult to watch at times and we're having a hard time to assemble 2 to 3 sets of attacks.


"We only had 19 [gamers] to select 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 which's what we did really well last year so we're a long method behind our best at the minute".


Catalans Dragons head coach Joel Tomkins informed Sky Sports:


"I'm actually, truly happy with the boys. They had a little bit of a headache journey the other day. The scramble, the desire and simply the work for each other, they never ever provided in, and I thought we got what we was worthy of tonight.


"We've got a couple of injuries at the minute, however what we have actually got is a group of lads who are willing to strive.


"We may not be the most experienced group, however they're going to can be found 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 truthful conversations, and it's going to be a long season for us if we turn out efficiencies like we did recently. If we turn out performances like we did this evening, then it'll be a truly pleasurable one."


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


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


"We do not whinge about it, we use it as a for the group. We may do some connecting flights for a few more away games if we show 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.