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Catalan Dragons 20 Leeds 27

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Catalan Dragons 20 Leeds 27: Rhinos edge towards final

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UPDATED:

21:01 GMT, 21 September 2012

Danny McGuire kept alive Leeds's hopes of a second Grand Final appearance from fifth place and killed Catalan's Old Trafford dreams.

The Rhinos rewrote the record books last year when they became the first team to claim the Super League title from outside the top three.

And they are closing in on a seventh Grand Final in nine years after McGuire scored the vital try and kicked a late drop goal.

Star man: McGuire scored the vital try and kicked a late drop goal

Star man: McGuire scored the vital try and kicked a late drop goal

Leeds had led 12-4 just before half-time, but Damien Blanch scored a 90-metre interception to narrow the gap and then crossed again from Scott Dureau's kick early in the second half.

Blanch's heroics had the Rhinos rocking, but Leeds captain Kevin Sinfield sent Carl Ablett over from a close-range kick.

Then Ryan Bailey went through three defenders from the restart before feeding McGuire to put the visitors 10 points clear.

The home side looked to be cruising, but Thomas Bosc's reply and Leon Pryce's introduction from the bench set up a tense finish.

Clint Greenshields had given the hosts an early lead when he squeezed under Jamie Peacock's attempted tackle.

But Rhinos' substitute Stevie Ward dislodged the ball from Jamal Fakir in a tackle, then charged on to Shaun Lunt's pass to edge Leeds ahead.

When Lunt supported Jamie Jones-Buchanan's break two minutes later, the Rhinos looked comfortable before Blanch's long-range effort.

Leeds will play either Wigan or St Helens in the semi-final next week, depending on who Wigan choose.

Catalan 38 Leeds 34

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Catalan 38 Leeds 34: Dragons shade thrilling clash after late turnaround

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UPDATED:

19:29 GMT, 18 August 2012

Leeds' Challenge Cup final build-up ended with a narrow
defeat to the Catalan Dragons in Perpignan on Saturday.

Following on from Warrington's heavy loss to London it looked as though both Wembley-bound sides would be heading to the
capital on the back of heavy defeats when Leeds trailed 18-0 and 32-12.

But a stunning turnaround ensured the game was only won in
the dying seconds, despite the home side having held a 20-point lead with 20
minutes remaining.

Catalan opened up an early 18-point lead with Setaimata Sa,
Scott Dureau and Remi Casty all going over in the first quarter of the game.

Dureau converted all three efforts and added a penalty on 36
minutes after Leeds had held Eloi Pelissier down in the tackle.

That penalty sandwiched two Leeds efforts, Shaun Lunt going
over after good work by Kallum Watkins, while the latter kept the Rhinos in the
hunt, crossing 20 seconds before the half-time hooter after a big assist by Zak
Hardaker.

Kevin Sinfield converted both tries to send the sides to the
interval at 20-12.

After the break, the Catalans turned the screw in the
stifling heat as Leeds tinkered with their side, trying different players in
different positions given their mini-injury crisis ahead of their Wembley
showdown.

A smart break by Damien Blanch, supported by Clint
Greenshields, gave the Dragons' field position before Sa's neat kick behind the
Leeds defence was pounced on by Vincent Duport. Dureau converted to take the
scores to 26-12.

Catalan captain Casty then scored his second of the night
with a try to the left hand side of the posts. Dureau again converted to give
the hosts a 20-point lead on the hour.

But Ryan Hall scored with 15 minutes to go and with the next
set of possession, Leeds scored again through youngster Jimmy Keinhorst.
Sinfield converted both to reduce the scores to 32-24.

With seven minutes remaining, Stevie Ward went on a dancing
run across the front of the Catalan defence and sent the ball out to Hall, with
the England winger picking the ball up and scoring in the same movement.

Sinfield missed the touch line conversion to see the scores
narrowed to 32-28.

But Catalan won the game with a superb try. Blanch and
Greenshields combined to give Scott Dureau the platform to put in a measured
kick in behind the Leeds defence and Daryl Millard touched down.

Dureau sealed the win with his seventh goal from seven
attempts.

There was just time for Leeds to send Catalan hearts racing
with a try two minutes from time after Lunt's break but, while not worrying
about the loss, Rhinos boss Brian McDermott will be concerned after prop Ryan
Bailey was put on report a week out from the Warrington game.

Hull FC 30 Catalan Dragons 10: Black and Whites close on top four

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Hull FC 30 Catalan Dragons 10: Black and Whites home in on top four spot

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UPDATED:

17:14 GMT, 12 August 2012

Hull FC dismantled a powerful Catalan Dragons side at the KC Stadium in a convincing win that displayed their credentials of claiming a top-four spot.

The Black-and-Whites closed the gap between themselves and the French side to two points as Ben Crooks grabbed his fourth try in as many games and Jamie Foster scored 14 points.

Willie Manu grabbed the first try of the match before Vincent Duport hit back for the Dragons to level it up. Either side of the break Lineham, Briscoe and Chris Green extended the home side's lead to 24-6 and, after Duport pulled a try back, Foster sealed it with a late try in the corner.

Try time: Tom Lineham scores under pressure from Clint Greenshields

Try time: Tom Lineham scores under pressure from Clint Greenshields

The Dragons came into the game level on points with both St Helens and Leeds Rhinos in fourth spot but in the 10th minute Hull had their first good field position as Manu's tackle dislodged the ball from Damien Blanch inside the French side's 20.

The Airlie Birds were over seconds later when a short pass from Danny Houghton found Manu for the try under the posts, and Foster added the two points.

A quarter of an hour in Lineham looked to be on his way to a sensational long-range try but a penalty was called against his side for obstruction.

Wrapped up: David Ferriol is tackled by Martin Aspinwall and Andy Lynch (right)

Wrapped up: David Ferriol is tackled by Martin Aspinwall and Andy Lynch (right)

That gave the visitors good position and some nice hands from Louis Anderson allowed Duport to crash over in the corner, Scott Dureau levelling it up with the conversion from the touchline.

After seeing off some concerted pressure from the Dragons, FC forced a drop-out on the half-hour from a well executed Brett Seymour grubber kick. Jordan Turner sent Lineham on his way to score in the corner – showing great finishing skills in the process – before Foster converted for a six-point lead.

Hull started the second half the stronger with a nice chip from Ryan McGoldrick forcing a drop-out after five minutes. Manu broke two tackles whilst stepping inside and supplied the on-rushing Chris Green for the try under the posts, Foster converting again to extend the lead to 12.

Louis Anderson

The visitors found themselves close to the FC line on 50 minutes, but a kick from Dureau was blocked and picked up by Briscoe, and the Featherstone-born player then ran 90 metres untouched for a great try.

FC extended their lead further nine minutes later to 18 with a penalty by Foster.

The Dragons regained the ball from the restart and reduced the gap to 14 when Duport grabbed his second try by bulldozing his way over in the corner.

With just over 10 minutes to go they forced a drop-out, but subsequent pressure was not utilised as Remi Casty knocked on in a good position.
Foster then sealed the win for FC as he went over the in the corner to push his side back up to sixth in the table.

Catalan Dragons 14 Wigan 36: Warriors maintain top spot courtesy of curious refereeing

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Catalan Dragons 14 Wigan 36: Warriors maintain top spot courtesy of curious refereeing

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UPDATED:

16:10 GMT, 9 June 2012

Wigan maintained their lead at the top of the Stobart Super League with a 36-14 win against a rugged Catalan side.

However, the result was much closer than the scoreline suggests as time and time again the home side were on the wrong end of some baffling refereeing decisions.

The main contentious decision came just before half-time when Josh Charnley appeared to score a try despite his elbow being in touch. Despite a video referee being available to James Child, the referee opted to give the try without the assistance.

After last weekend's defeat at Salford, this was a much better Catalan performance and they took the lead early through a Scott Dureau penalty.

There are still signs that the home side are not at their best however, when – with Gil Dudson in the sin-bin for a late challenge on Dureau – Wigan managed to score two tries. Charnley converted one of them to give the Warriors a 10-2 lead.

The video referee was needed in the 18th minute when he awarded a penalty try to the Catalans after Michael McIlorum tackled Clint Greenshields just before the tryline without the ball as the full-back chased Setaimata Sa's kick through. Dureau added the conversion to reduce the arrears to 10-8

Just before the break Louis Anderson left the field with a shoulder injury, and down the right hand edge that he had been defending in Sam Tomkins set Charnley free to dive over for his controversial effort. Charnley failed to convert his effort as the half time hooter went.

Six minutes after the turnaround, Charnley did extend the Warriors lead with a penalty from in front of the posts, given for the markers not being square at the play the ball.

Wigan extended their lead further four minutes later with a superb try that involved Sean O'Loughlin, Jeff Lima, McIlorum and Brett Finch before the ball found its way to George Carmont to score his first of the afternoon. Again Charnley failed with the conversion.

On the hour the ball was sent to the Wigan left and Jack Hughes managed to offload to the supporting Carmont to score to the left of the posts. Charnley again missed the conversion attempt.

Dureau narrowed the deficit with a quick tap penalty that caught the Wigan defence napping as he raced in from 60 metres out to score under the posts. He quickly converted his own try to narrow the gap further to 10 points with 10 minutes remaining.

However, Wigan finished the stronger and late tries from Tomkins and Hughes extended their advantage. Tomkins took over the kicking duties from Charnley and converted both efforts.

Widnes 34 Catalan 42

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Widnes 34 Catalan 42: Dragons continue fine league form after edging out Vikings

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UPDATED:

16:49 GMT, 20 May 2012

Catalan Dragons bounced back from their Challenge Cup defeat by Warrington to notch their fifth win in their last six Super League matches.

But the Dragons were given a fright by bottom club Widnes in a 14-try extravaganza.

Widnes had conceded at least 30 points in every match back in Super League and were determined to make amends for their 76-6 hammering at the hands of the Dragons in March.

Widnes 34 Catalan Dragons 42

The Vikings, who had lost their only two previous meetings against Catalan, welcomed back goal-kicking winger Patrick Ah Van, although Simon Finnigan was out with a broken leg sustained in the Vikings' sixth defeat in a row at Castleford.

Widnes coach Denis Betts recalled Anthony Mullally, who was dropped after rejecting a new contract offer.

Mathias Pala was on the Dragons' bench for his first appearance of the season in place of Daryl Millard.

And the Dragons took less than two minutes to sweep ahead after Scott Dureau's 40-20 kick put the Vikings immediately on the defensive.

Dureau fed Leon Pryce straight from the scrum and Clint Greenshields slid over in the corner.

Catalan looked set to go further ahead but Stefan Marsh intercepted Vincent Duport's pass.

The Vikings relief was short-lived with Steve Menzies taking Dureau's inside pass after 10 minutes to send Pryce over and make it 10-0.

Duport shrugged off Paddy Flynn for the Dragons third try three minutes later and it was all too easy for the Frenchmen.

Menzies let Widnes off the hook by losing the ball over the line before the Vikings were finally stung into action.

Widnes got on the scoresheet midway through the first half with Stefan Marsh taking Rhys Hanbury's pass to cut inside Dureau and Hanbury booted the conversion to cut the gap to 14-6.

A rare Catalan mistake then allowed Joe Mellor to wriggle over and cut the gap to 14-12.

But Pryce put Louis Anderson through a yawning gap to extend the Dragons' lead after 32 minutes with Dureau tagging on the goal.

Then Anderson inexplicably dropped the ball over the line from Pryce to squander another chance.

Widnes had an Ah Van try disallowed for a forward pass from Hanbury, who then ran 80 metres after the half-time hooter to score a spectacular solo breakaway try.

Hanbury booted the conversion and, after being outplayed for most of the first half, Widnes trailed only 20-18 at the break.

The Vikings went ahead early in the second half with a fine Chris Dean try after he slipped a Thomas Bosc tackle following a storming Marsh burst.

But Widnes skipper Jon Clarke was sin-binned after 52 minutes for a late tackle on Dureau.

Vikings sub Lloyd White was taken off with a leg injury but, after Ah Van had a try disallowed, Anderson forced his way over on the hour to restore the Dragons' advantage at 26-22.

Mellor was down injured when Lopini Paea barged his way over with Dureau making it 32-22.

Mellor became the second Widnes player carried off on a stretcher with both tries coming with Clarke in the bin.

But Dave Allen's converted try after Clarke's return closed the gap to 32-28 and then Clarke and Dean put Ah Van over in the corner to level 32-32.

Man of the match Hanbury's conversion edged the Vikings back in front but the lead was short-lived with Bosc scoring too far out for Dureau to convert.

Dureau's late converted try sealed the win.

Catalan Dragons coach eyes Challenge Cup quarter-final win over Warrington

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Best is yet to come! Catalan coach eyes quarter-final win over Warrington

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UPDATED:

15:53 GMT, 12 May 2012

Catalan Dragons coach Trent Robinson is calling for his in-form team to produce their best performance yet when they put their 100 per cent home record on the line against Warrington in the quarter-finals of the Carnegie Challenge Cup.

The Dragons warmed up for the visit of the Wolves with a 27-20 victory over Super League leaders Huddersfield but Robinson believes they will need to find some improvement if they are to stay on course for a trip to Wembley.

And he is disregarding completely their 44-16 league win over Warrington on Easter Monday.

Up for the cup: Catalan coach Trent Robinson wants his in-form team to put in another winning performance

Up for the cup: Catalan coach Trent Robinson wants his in-form team to put in another winning performance

'They were pretty disappointed with that game but they're getting better and better each week,' Robinson said.

'We need a big performance. We want to go through to the semis but we're going to have to play really well, and much better than we did last week, to proceed.

'Obviously it's a big bonus playing at home – that's a big thing for us – but that last game we played won't make any difference to this one.'

The Wolves have yet to rediscover the form that took them to the League Leaders' Shield in 2011 but they will go into tomorrow's tie in Perpignan on the back of a four-match winning run and hooker Mick Higham believes they are gradually starting to hit their straps.

'We are getting back on track this season,' he said. 'A good win over there in France, where they have not lost this year, would be a massive performance for us and we are confident of doing it.

'We will go over there, give it our best shot and if we are on our game, I am sure it will be good enough.'

No way through: Catalan have been in fine form

No way through: Catalan have been in fine form

Robinson has named scrum-half Scott Dureau in his squad despite earlier this week ruling him out with a knee injury.

The Australian was hurt during his side's win over Huddersfield and was diagnosed with a torn meniscus that was expected to sideline him for a fortnight.

Warrington, who beat the Dragons 54-12 in the semi-finals two years ago, are still without Adrian Morley, Michael Monaghan and Richie Myler but first-team regulars Lee Briers, Chris Bridge, Brett Hodgson and Ben Westwood all return having been rested last week.

In Sunday's other quarter-final, Huddersfield coach Nathan Brown insists his side will not under-estimate visitors London Broncos, who have not beaten a Super League team away from home for more than 12 months.

'The Broncos have some good players,' he said.

'They have had some good results at home and they did really well against Bradford Bulls last weekend.'

Hull KR 18 Catalan Dragons 20: Leon Pryce ensures Michael Dobson pays penalty

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Hull KR 18 Catalan Dragons 20: Pryce sees Dobson pays penalty for wayward boot

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UPDATED:

16:42 GMT, 15 April 2012

Two tries from Leon Pryce helped Catalan Dragons book their place in the fifth round of the Carnegie Challenge Cup with a thrilling win over Hull KR.

The Dragons held off a stirring second-half comeback from the Robins, who actually outscored their opponents four tries to three only for three missed conversions by Michael Dobson to prove costly.

Catalan's first-half performance turned out to be just enough as they made the most of the strong wind behind them to score three tries and establish a 20-0 lead at the break.

Try time: Hull Kingston Rovers' Blake Green beats Damien Cardace (left) and Darryl Millard to score

Try time: Hull Kingston Rovers' Blake Green beats Damien Cardace (left) and Darryl Millard to score

Catalan opened the scoring in the seventh minute through Pryce. His close-range effort silenced MS3 Craven Park, with no visiting fans in the away end which is being prepared for the new north stand. Scott Dureau's conversion gave the Dragons a 6-0 lead.

Blake Green was making his first appearance of the season after recovering from a blood clot and he almost marked his return with a try in the 14th minute, but Phil Bentham ruled his effort out for a knocking on when Green tried to ground the ball.

But the majority of the game was being played at the opposite end of the pitch where Rovers were called upon to defend their line for long periods.

Delight: Catalan Dragons' Ian Henderson is congratulated after going over to score his side's third try

Delight: Catalan Dragons' Ian Henderson is congratulated after going over to score his side's third try

Helped by errors and penalties by the hosts, Catalan tried hard to get over for their second score, but neither Dureau or his half-back partner Pryce could find a way through.

A forward pass prevented Louis Anderson from getting free, while Setaimata Sa and David Ferriol should have displayed better handling skills when closing in on Rovers' line.

When Catalan opted for two points when presented with a penalty in front of the posts, Dureau knocked over the kick with ease for an 8-0 lead.

Match-winner: Catalan Dragons' Leon Pryce is congratulated after scoring his side's first try

Match-winner: Catalan Dragons' Leon Pryce is congratulated after scoring his side's first try

Playing into a strong head wind, Rovers looked like getting to half-time just 8-0 down until a moment of brilliance from Pryce. Anticipating Josh Hodgson was going to jump out from marker, Pryce chipped through from 30 metres and grounded his own kick untouched. Dureau's conversion made it 14-0.

Catalan were looking good for a place in the fifth round, especially when Ian Henderson went over for Catalan's third try of the half and their second in three minutes.

Henderson capitalised after Sam Latus knocked on when gathering a Dureau high bomb as the wind caused problems for the players. But Dureau judged the wind perfectly to land his fourth goal of the half to leave Rovers 20-0 adrift at the break.

No stopping him: Pryce dives over to score at the MS3 Craven Park Stadium in Hull

No stopping him: Pryce dives over to score at the MS3 Craven Park Stadium in Hull

Scott Taylor started the fightback for Rovers, following up his two tries in the 18-10 win at Salford with another after a superb run from Rhys Lovegrove, whose powerful drive dragged Catalan's defence out of position for Taylor to score. Dobson converted to bring Rovers back into the game.

The try rejuvenated the home side. After a sustained period of pressure on the Dragons' line, Green backed himself to score with his show-and-go move. Dobson's conversion rebounded off a post.

Green grew in confidence throughout the game and his 40/20 provided the platform for Hodgson to score Rovers' third try of the half down the left wing. Hodgson went over from close range after spotting a gap from dummy half. Dobson however, missed his second successive conversion to leave the Robins trailing 20-14.

Catch me if you can: Hull Kingston Rovers' Rhys Lovegrove forces his way through the Catalan Dragons' defence

Catch me if you can: Hull Kingston Rovers' Rhys Lovegrove forces his way through the Catalan Dragons' defence

The try of the game came in the 70th minute when Liam Salter's tackle forced an error from Sa before Craig Hall advanced the ball to the halfway line. He found Dobson who in turn sent Kris Welham away before delivering the scoring pass for Latus in the left-hand corner.

But Dobson's missed conversion left Catalan still two points in front and the visitors managed to hold on as Rovers' fine fightback fell just short.

St Helens 32 Catalan 34: Great Scott seals last-gasp win to send Dragons top

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St Helens 32 Catalan Dragons 34: Great Scott seals last-gasp win to send away side top

Scott Dureau scored a last-minute
conversion as Catalan Dragons completed a thrilling comeback to go top
of the Stobart Super League.

Catalan had trailed 20-8 at the
break, but Daryl Millard completed the fight back with a late try before
Dureau kicked the extras.

Red wave: Dragons' Remi Casty scores their opening try

Red wave: Dragons' Remi Casty scores their opening try

Leon Pryce was back in town having swapped the famous red ‘V’ of St Helens for the red and yellow of the vibrant Catalan Dragons.

England international Pryce, 30, won everything there is to win at club level, first with Bradford and then in his six seasons with Saints.

But after an injury-dogged 2011 campaign with Saints, the mercurial halfback opted to move to the south of France on a three-year deal.

Last night, on his first visit to Saints’ new 30 million Langtree Park, Pryce could only watch as Saints’ young pretenders raced into a 20-8 half-time lead.

Holding on: Catalan duo Remi Casty and Ian Henderson tackle St Helens' Jamie Foster(centre)

Holding on: Catalan duo Remi Casty and Ian Henderson tackle Jamie Foster

Those youngsters — Lee Gaskell, Jonny Lomax, Gary Wheeler and Jamie Foster — were well to the fore. Stand-off Gaskell set up Saints’ first try for Foster, and scrum-half

Lomax created their second for prop Anthony Laffranchi after Catalans levelled at 6-6 with Remi Casty’s converted touchdown.

Understandably, in only his second appearance for his new club, Pryce looked rusty.

There will be plenty more to come but it will take time and Saints continued to dictate play here, with a Foster penalty and then a Gary Wheeler try. A Scott Dureau penalty, right on the hooter for half-time, made it 20-8.

Back in town: Saints old boy Leon Pryce in action for Catalan

Back in town: Saints old boy Leon Pryce in action for Catalan Dragons

Within four minutes of the restart 20-year-old Saints winger Tommy Makinson scored from Ryan Atkins’ pass and Foster nailed the kick.

Catalan didn’t help themselves with some poor execution but their increased pressure brought them a try just short of the hour mark from winger Damien Blanch.

Catalan grew in confidence and scored two more tries inside a minute, the first from Vincent Duport, the second from halfback Dureau. Saints relieved the pressure with a wonderful interception try by Wheeler only for Leon Pryce to send back rower Setaimata Sa over for Catalans before Millard set up the thrilling finale.