Saints lose out to dogged Dragons

St.Helens’ 100% start to the Super League season ended after a dogged Catalans Dragons side earned an 18-10 win at a wet Stade Gilbert Brutus.

Dom Peyroux got us off to a flyer, before Fouad Yaha levelled the game up. Tommy Makinson put us back in front with a trademark finish, but Sam Tomkins sent the sides in level at the break. Saints dominated much of the second half, but a Tomkins penalty and a late Tony Gigot try won the game for the Dragons.

Mark Percival, James Roby, Alex Walmsley and Zeb Taia all returned to Justin Holbrook’s side, whilst Danny Richardson started in place of the injured Theo Fages and Jack Welsby retained his place as Jonny Lomax was forced to miss the game through illness.

Despite the awful conditions over in the south of France, Saints started strongly. After just our second set, an accurate kick through from  Richardson allowed Peyroux to get to the ball first and give Saints the perfect start inside three minutes. Coote added the extras giving us a 6-0 lead.

Catalans came right back at Saints though and levelled within minutes after a delicate kick through from Tomkins found Yaha in the corner. Tomkins converted from wide levelling the scores at 6-6 with just eight minutes played.

A tight 15 minutes followed with both teams defence on top before Saints managed to break the Catalans line with great handling on the right edge and Coote provided the cut-out pass to Makinson for him to score with a spectacular finish in the corner. We lead 6-10 with 25 minutes played.

Catalans were over again in the corner minutes later though this time through Tomkins, after a high ball was knocked backwards by Yaha and the former Wiganer picked up to score making the score 10-10 at half time. The full-back did have the chance to extend the hosts lead, but his penalty struck the post.

In the opening minutes of the second half Catalans were awarded a penalty in front of the posts and this time Tomkins did give them a slender lead of 12-10.

Saints pressed the Dragons line for the most of the last 30 minutes, but the French outfit, to their credit, stood firm.

And they hit us with the sucker punch late on as Gigot latched onto a neat kick through from Lucas Albert securing Catalans an 18-10 win.

Match Summary:

Saints:

Tries: Peyroux (3), Makinson (25).

Goals: Coote (1 from 2)

Starting 13: Lachlan Coote, Tommy Makinson, Kevin Naiqama, Mark Percival, Regan Grace, Jack Welsby, Danny Richardson, Alex Walmsley, James Roby, Luke Thompson, Zeb Taia, Dom Peyroux, Morgan Knowles.

Interchanges: Joseph Paulo, Kyle Amor, Matty Lees, Jack Ashworth.

Catalans Dragons:

Tries: Yaha (7), Tomkins (34), Gigot (75).

Goals: Tomkins (2 from 3)

Penalties: Tomkins (1 from 2)

Starting 13: Sam Tomkins, Fouad Yaha, Samisoni Langi, Brayden Wiliame, Lewis Tierney, Tony Gigot, Matty Smith, Julian Bousquet, Alrix Da Costa,  Sam Moa, Benjamin Jullien,  Matt Whitley, Remi Casty.

Interchanges: Greg Bird, Mickael Goudemand, Lucas Albert, Sam Kasiano.

HT: 10-10
FT: 18-10

REF: R. Hicks

ATT: 8783

Saints Line up

1 Lachlan Coote
2 Tommy Makinson
3 Kevin Naiqama
4 Mark Percival
5 Regan Grace
1 Jack Welsby
7 Danny Richardson
8 Alex Walmsley
James Roby
10 Luke Thompson
11 Zeb Taia
12 Dominique Peyroux
13 Morgan Knowles
18 Joseph Paulo
18 Kyle Amor
10 Matty Lees
17 Jack Ashworth

Catalans Dragons Line up

1 Sam Tomkins
2 Fouad Yaha
3 Samisoni Langi
4 Brayden Wiliame
5 Lewis Tierney
6 Tony Gigot
7 Matty Smith
8 Julian Bousquet
9 Alrix Da Costa
10 Sam Moa
11 Benjamin Jullien
12 Matt Whitley
13 Rémi Casty
14 Greg Bird
15 Mickael Goudemand
16 Lucas Albert
17 Sam Kasiano

Last updated 6 Apr 19 19:32:34

FT

FULL TIME: ? DRAGONS 18-10 SAINTS ?⚪

Despite having much of the ball in that second half, we couldn’t find the try line and it’s a Tomkins penalty and a Gigot second half try which secured the win for the hosts.

79'

Saints are penalised for a forward pass as it looked like we were going to score in the corner.

? DRAGONS 18-10 SAINTS ?⚪

78'

We win a succession of penalties, but Catalans are standing firm. COYS!

? DRAGONS 18-10 SAINTS ?⚪

77'

Saints have the ball back after the turnover…three minutes to go!

? DRAGONS 18-10 SAINTS ?⚪

76'
Goal
Sam Tomkins for Catalans Dragons

The Dragons now lead by 8 points with less than 5 minutes to go.

? DRAGONS 18-10 SAINTS ?⚪

75'
Try
Tony Gigot for Catalans Dragons

After all that Saints pressure, Lucas Albert kicks through and Gigot beats Richardson to the ball to touch down at the other end.

? DRAGONS 16-10 SAINTS ?⚪

74'

Both sides exchange sets before Thompson knocks on and something has been said as both sets of teams come face to face!

? DRAGONS 12-10 SAINTS ?⚪

70'

Welsby nearly breaks through, but again Catalans survive as Richardson’s kick on the last finds a Dragons hand. 10 minutes to go here in Perpignan!

? DRAGONS 12-10 SAINTS ?⚪

69'

Yaha blocks off Naiquama and Saints have another penalty. Can we find that try this time around? Let’s hope so!

? DRAGONS 12-10 SAINTS ?⚪

68'

Bousquet forces another goal-line drop out as he palms Makinson’s kick out. The pressure is building!

? DRAGONS 12-10 SAINTS ?⚪

67'

But Bousquet this time loses the ball and Saints come again, trapping Gigot in goal as our away fans find their voice. Another set to come. COYS!

? DRAGONS 12-10 SAINTS ?⚪

66'

Welsby charges down the Catalans kick and tries to grasp the loose ball, but referee Robert Hicks has deemed Jack knocked on when it looked like Matty Smith had knocked the ball back.

? DRAGONS 12-10 SAINTS ?⚪

64'

Richardson again kicks on the last which finds Makinson, who chips the ball over the top himself, but again the Dragons defend well and hold on to their slender lead.

? DRAGONS 12-10 SAINTS ?⚪

63'

We make vital yards and Richardson runs and then kicks on the last, but the Dragons defender holds on before Gigot knocks on and Saints have another chance!

? DRAGONS 12-10 SAINTS ?⚪

61'

Gigot knocks on and is then penalised again for dissent and Saints have the ball back. Let’s make this count, boys!

? DRAGONS 12-10 SAINTS ?⚪

60'

Gigot’s kick causes trouble in the Saints line as Coote and Grace collide, but the ball finds touch and referee Hicks has called a goal-line drop out.

? DRAGONS 12-10 SAINTS ?⚪

59'

Saints penalised for having two bodies in the ruck. Catalans have the penalty.

? DRAGONS 12-10 SAINTS ?⚪

58'

We play out our set and put in a good defensive set to halt the Dragons in their own half. We have the ball back. Can we find the next try?

? DRAGONS 12-10 SAINTS ?⚪

56'

Tomkins kick finds touch and Saints have the scrum in our own half.

? DRAGONS 12-10 SAINTS ?⚪

53'

Grace does brilliantly to catch the high ball and Saints survive before a great kick from Richardson means we can put pressure on the Dragons at the other end.

? DRAGONS 12-10 SAINTS ?⚪

51'

Catalans kick on the last and the ball strikes referee Robert Hicks who awards a goal-line drop out! We have been unfortunate there as the Dragons get another chance to attack.

? DRAGONS 12-10 SAINTS ?⚪

49'

Richardson then hits a high kick of his own which Gigot fumbles, but he gets away with it before the Dragons win a penalty.

? DRAGONS 12-10 SAINTS ?⚪

48'

Grace this time safely catches Smith’s high kick as both sides exchange sets.

? DRAGONS 12-10 SAINTS ?⚪

45'
Goal
Sam Tomkins for Catalans Dragons

He makes no mistake and the Dragons lead.

? DRAGONS 12-10 SAINTS ?⚪

44'

Grace drops the Catalans high bomb under the sun which is now out here in Perpignan and the Dragons have a chance to take the lead as Tomkins is going to take the two right in front of the sticks.

43'

Richardson kicks on the last, but it hits a Catalans man and the hosts survive.

? DRAGONS 10-10 SAINTS ?⚪

41'

A great start by the Saints as straight from the kick off, Peyroux and co trap the Dragons in goal and we have the ball back! COYS!

? DRAGONS 10-10 SAINTS ?⚪

41'

We are back underway here in Perpignan. Come on lads!

? DRAGONS 10-10 SAINTS ?⚪

? Big Al surging forward in what was a tough first half over in Perpignan.

HALF-TIME: ? Dragons 10-10 Saints ?⚪

Peyroux and Makinson tries for Saints, but we are level at the break after Yaha and Tomkins score for the French outfit. Game on in the second half!

40'

Tomkins kick clatters the post and the score remains level!

? Dragons 10-10 Saints ?⚪

39'

Saints penalised for offside and Tomkins will go for the two here just over the half-way line.

? Dragons 10-10 Saints ?⚪

39'

Welsby finds touch with a mid-field kick as the clock ticks down towards half-time.

? Dragons 10-10 Saints ?⚪

37'

Kasiano throws a lose pass which Knowles is close to grasping, but Morgan knocks on.

? Dragons 10-10 Saints ?⚪

35'

Tomkins misses the extras and we are all square.

? Dragons 10-10 Saints ?⚪

34'
Try
Sam Tomkins for Catalans Dragons

A high kick from Gigot results in the ball hitting the shoulder of Yaha and Tomkins arrives late to pick up the loose ball to score in the corner. Kick to come.

? Dragons 10-10 Saints ?⚪

32'

Both teams exchange sets before Richardson again throws up another high bomb which Makinson meets but he is penalised for knocking the ball forward.

? Dragons 6-10 Saints ?⚪

28'

Richardson kicks a high bomb on the last, but Coote fails to pick up the bouncing ball and Catalans have the ball.

? Dragons 6-10 Saints ?⚪

26'

Coote misses the tough touchline conversion attempt.

? Dragons 6-10 Saints ?⚪

25'
Try
Tommy Makinson for Saints

Get in!!!!!! The ball is moved from left to right and results in a lovely cut-out pass from Cooooooote who finds Tommy in the corner and he flies over!

24'

Big Al Walmsley wins the penalty after Jullien is penalised. Come on boys!

? Dragons 6-6 Saints ?⚪

23'

Thompson now knocks on in a tackle with Da Costa and Casty. Dragons have the scrum in their own half.

? Dragons 6-6 Saints ?⚪

21'

Richardson kicks on the last which results in Makinson palming the ball back, but to a Dragons man who go on to complete their set.

? Dragons 6-6 Saints ?⚪

20'

But now the Dragons knock on and Saints have the ball. The wet conditions are certainly playing their part and this one might come down to which side can deal with the conditions the better.

? Dragons 6-6 Saints ?⚪

18'

Both sides exchange sets before Coote knocks on in a tackle with Whitley after the big Catalans man slipped and fell into our full back.

? Dragons 6-6 Saints ?⚪

16'

Catalan kick on the last, the ball hits Welsby who is then deemed to have knocked on when trying to grab hold of the loose ball. The Dragons have the scrum on half way.

? Dragons 6-6 Saints ?⚪

15'

Richardson chooses to pass on the last rather than kick and Welsby is tackled meaning it’s the turnover.

? Dragons 6-6 Saints ?⚪

14'

Now Saints win a penalty as Whitley is penalised for not being square. Chance…

? Dragons 6-6 Saints ?⚪

13'

Wiliame tries a quick flicked pass out-wide, but the ball flies out of play and Saints have it back.

? Dragons 6-6 Saints ?⚪

11'

Catalans win a penalty as Knowles is deemed to have tackled Casty without the ball.

? Dragons 6-6 Saints ?⚪

8'
Goal
Sam Tomkins for Catalans Dragons

The former Wiganer kicks the extras from the touchline and we are all square.

? Dragons 6-6 Saints ?⚪

7'
Try
Fouad Yaha for Catalans Dragons

The Dragons strike back after a delicate kick through from Tomkins finds Yaha who challenges Makinson in the corner and the video referee deems he to have beaten Tommy to the ball first to touch down.

? Dragons 4-6 Saints ?⚪

5'

Roby knocks on early in the set after a messy play-the-ball. The rain certainly playing its part in these early stages.

? Dragons 0-6 Saints ?⚪

4'
Goal
Lachlan Coote for Saints

The birthday boy retains the kicking duties and he adds the extras!

? Dragons 0-6 Saints ?⚪

3'
Try
Dominique Peyroux for Saints

Get in!! And a lovely Richardson kick again finds Peyroux over the top who slides to the right of the sticks to touch down! What a start!

? Dragons 0-4 Saints ?⚪

2'

A lovely first kick over the top from Richardson puts pressure on the Catalans line. They just about get themselves out of goal and kick early meaning Saints have it back!

? Dragons 0-0 Saints ?⚪

KICK OFF: We are off and underway here at a very wet Stade Gilbert Brutus…COYS!

? Dragons 0-0 Saints ?⚪

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