SAINTS’ frustrating season continued in Perpignan as they went down 33-16 to Catalans.
Tries from Louie McCarthy-Scarsbrook in the first half and Adam Swift in the second had given them a foothold in the game – but it ultimately proved fruitless in the front of the Dragons’ attack.
Plans were further hampered by the loss of full back Jonny Lomax in the warm up and Theo Fages at half time.
Saints didn’t have the best possible start to the game either as they dropped the ball from the kick off.
A penalty quickly followed and Pat Richards duly added the two points to give Catalans the lead.
But Louie McCarthy-Scarsbrook took a bullet pass from Jordan Turner to eradicate the error – goaled by Jack Owens.
Saints came again and were unlucky not to increase the lead – and their defence was tenacious enough to stop a flurry of Catalan attacks.
On 21 minutes though that resolves was broken as Catalans hit back through Fouad Yaha as he took advantage down the far side.
Richards with his second goal of the game.
Saints had one chalked off for ‘being short’ through full back replacement Shannon McDonnell and a break on the half hour mark from Fages should have perhaps brought more points.
But Catalans went further ahead when a penalty allowed the space for Lucas Albert to go over.
Richards missed the conversion but right on the stroke of half time Todd Carney added a one-pointer.
Fages didn’t emerge for the second half so it was the job of the makeshift half back pairing of Jordan Turner and Jon Wilkin to guide the team around the field.
And the latter did just that earning an error from Morgan Escare following a long kick. Saints then won two drop outs and following a penalty McDonnell picked out Adam Swift on a sublime move.
But Jodie Broughton restored the homeside’s seven point advantage with a simple finish on 53 minutes and from the restart Escare showed all his pace to increase it further.
And Broughton duly tagged on his second on the hour mark.
Thomas Bosc added a penalty in the 63rd minute after Morgan Knowles was adjudged to have taken out the kicker and Tony Gigot crossed after some great work from a kick to the corner to compound the Dragons’ second half dominance.
Shannon McDonnell popping up with a fine individual effort from dummy half at the end of the game to give his side some consolation.
Match Summary:
Dragons:
Tries: Yaha, Albert, Broughton (2), Escare, Gigot
Goals: Richards (2 from 5), Bosc (2 from 3)
Drop: Carney
Saints:
Tries: McCarthy-Scarsbrook, Swift, McDonnell
Goals: Owens (2 from 3)
Penalties:
Dragons: 9
Saints: 6
HT: 6-13
FT: 16-33
REF: C Campbell
ATT: 10,789
Teams:
Dragons:
21. Morgan Escaré; 2. Jodie Broughton, 1. Tony Gigot, 5. Pat Richards, 20. Fouad Yaha; 6. Todd Carney, 27. Lucas Albert; 14. Dave Taylor, 16. Eloi Pelissier, 10. Rémi Casty, 11. Glenn Stewart, 12. Justin Horo, 13. Jason Baitieri.
Subs: 15. Julian Bousquet, 18. Thomas Bosc, 22. Antoni Maria, 30. Romain Navarrete.
Saints:
23. Shannon McDonnell; 22. Jack Owens, 21. Matty Dawson, 4. Mark Percival, 5. Adam Swift; 19. Theo Fages, 3. Jordan Turner; 14. Lama Tasi, 9. James Roby, 10. Kyle Amor, 20. Joe Greenwood, 12. Jon Wilkin, 13. Louie McCarthy-Scarsbrook.
Subs: 8. Alex Walmsley, 11. Atelea Vea, 17. Luke Thompson, 28. Morgan Knowles.
