
Match Report – Catalans 24 – 12 St Helens
St Helens received on the scoreboard via Alex Walmsley and Jack Welsby; Catalans Dragons hit again via Arthur Mourgue and Matt Ikuvalu, plus two tries Tom Davies
Final Up to date: 05/05/23 9:58pm
Two tries for Tom Davies within the second half helped Catalans Dragons safe an enormous 24-12 Tremendous League win over St Helens on the Stade Gilbert Brutus in Perpignan.
Tries from Alex Walmsley and Jack Welsby gave St Helens an early lead, however Catalans hit again with Arthur Mourgue and Matt Ikuvalu going over for the house aspect to carry the rating to 12-12.
Each groups entered the second half a participant down after Konrad Hurrell was proven a yellow card for dissent, with Catalans dropping Sio Siau Taukeiaho with a couple of minutes left of the primary 40 for a excessive shot on Welsby.
Catalans then took management within the second half and scored 12 unanswered factors, a penalty for Adam Keighran plus two tries for Tom Davies wrapping up the victory because the French crew returned to profitable methods after three consecutive defeats.
Story of the sport
There was an electrical environment on the Stade Gilbert Brutus with defences on prime early on, though Catalans had repeated possibilities proper on St Helens’ line.
Nonetheless, it was the guests who had been first on the scoresheet, Walmsley barrelling in from brief vary beneath the sticks.
After an excellent Tommy Makinson sort out prevented a near-certain Davies strive within the nook, St Helens went to the opposite finish of the sector to increase their lead, an excellent move from Hurrell sending Welsby skipping via the defence within the twenty second minute, Makinson including the extras to carry the rating to 12-0.
Catalans Dragons: Tries: Arthur Mourgue (28), Matt Ikuvalu (36), Tom Davies (50, 59) ; Conversions: Adam Keighran (29, 38, 43, 52)
St Helens: Tries: Alex Walmsley (11), Jack Welsby (22) ;Conversions: Tommy Makinson (12)
Nonetheless, it took simply six minutes for the hosts to answer, Sam Tomkins sending Mourgue racing via the hole and 40 metres downfield to attain.
With simply over 5 minutes remaining within the first half, Hurrell was despatched to the sin-bin for dissent and the Dragons instantly pounced, Ikuvalu discovering the hole to dive over on debut, with Keighran including the extras to carry the sport to 12-12.
There was extra late drama within the first half as Taukeiaho was additionally proven a yellow card for a excessive shot.
With all issues sq. getting into the second half, it was Catalans who went forward for the primary time via a penalty from Keighran within the forty third minute, Davies then diving within the nook to increase their benefit to 20-12 with half-hour remaining.
Lower than 10 minutes later Davies added his second, amassing Tomkins’ crossfield kick in acres of area to go over and convey the rating to 24-12.
From there, Catalans maintained management, as St Helens’ dealing with errors continued to value them in key areas, to say an enormous victory.
What they stated:
Catalans Dragons head coach Steve McNamara:
“I feel the efficiency tonight was actually good from us however the stadium, all the things surrounding it has been excellent.
“It’s what Tremendous League is all about and it was actually vital for us tonight that we put a present on and put Rugby League in France again on the map.
“Matt Ikuvalu did very well. He did a extremely, actually good job for us.
“The largest option to reply is with 24 unanswered factors so that’s fairly good.”
St Helens head coach Paul Wellens:
“We made too many unforced errors.
“All through the evening at sure factors within the sport we simply launched strain.
“Catalans got here and performed very well and made it actually tough for us in durations however we actually did not assist ourselves.
“We had been simply poor tonight and we have now received to simply accept that.”
What’s subsequent?
Up subsequent for the Catalans Dragons is a go to to the Castleford Tigers on Friday Could 12, with kick-off at 8pm. For St Helens, a house conflict in opposition to the Salford Purple Devils awaits on Saturday Could 13, with kick-off at 1pm.