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 ways following back-to-back Super League beats with a narrow victory 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 two matches.


Tesi Niu scored two great shots for Leigh, either side of winger Innes Senior's rating, but it showed to be in vain for the hosts.


Leigh have actually now lost three Super League matches in a row and will require 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 airplane from Perpignan forced them to make an emergency landing in Bordeaux, implying their journey to Greater Manchester took 16 hours to finish.


And they were dealt a further blow before kick-off when winger Tommy Makinson chose up an injury in the warm-up and had to be changed in the beginning line-up by Leo Darrelatour.


In the 8th minute, Leigh took benefit when exceptional hands from Lachlan Lam permitted stand-in full-back Gareth O'Brien to discover Senior, who raced clear before setting up Niu to move in for a superb team shot. Adam Cook added the extras magnificently from the touchline.


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


Catalans then went close to taking the lead before the break however Darrelatour was pressed into touch when trying 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 brand-new signings from last season in Catalans' matchday squad - allowed Sexton to charge forward before he found Staines, who completed a remarkable relocation from close quarters.


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


A pass from Lam then went loose and was struck upon by Darrelatour. He raced 80 backyards and wisely recycled the ball before Sexton found fellow half-back Dodd for an important third shot for the away side.


With 15 minutes left, Niu managed the moment of the match, picking the ball up deep in his own half, skipping an obstacle from Cotric, before deceiving Staines with excellent footwork to dive over for a fantastic private rating.


In the passing away moments, Leigh stacked on the pressure in their quest to find a winning score, however outstanding safeguarding from the Dragons snuffed out their attempts, and the visitors put the seal on the win through Sexton's fifth effective kick soon before the hooter sounded.


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


"Frustrating once again tonight. We had a lot of opportunities once again to win that video game however it simply seemed like it was never ever actually in our favour the entire time.


"There were turning points like the obstruct try. [If] we nail the skill there, we score the shot and we probably win the video game - that was probably the most frustrating part.


"It's [been] a hard night. There was a lot of effort however we lacked the game-sense. It's difficult to enjoy sometimes and we're having a hard time to assemble 2 to 3 sets of attacks.


"We just had 19 [gamers] to select from however that's not a reason. We lacked the DNA people as a club.


"We couldn't score points when we required them most which's what we did really well in 2015 so we're a long method behind our finest at the minute".


Catalans Dragons head coach Joel Tomkins informed Sky Sports:


"I'm truly, really pleased with the young boys. They had a little a problem journey the other day. The scramble, the desire and just the work for each other, they never offered in, and I believed we got what we was worthy of tonight.


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


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


"In the week, we had some honest conversations, and it's going to be a long season for us if we end up efficiencies like we did recently. If we end up efficiencies like we did tonight, then it'll be an actually enjoyable one."


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


"That's part of betting 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 connection piece for the group. We might do some connecting flights for a couple of more away 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.