Catalans Dragons v Saints

Match Report
As it Happened
Line Up
Match News

Saints beat Catalans 13-14 in Perpignan on Saturday, our first victory over the Dragons in the South of France since 2018!

Saints lost Harry Robertson to a HIA inside the opening three minutes following a collision during his first carry. He wasn’t to return to the game after failing the assessment.

The visitors took the lead inside the opening six minutes, with our first opportunity. A move down the right edge saw Jack Welsby break a tackle and he found Tristan Sailor in support on his inside, who raced away to open the scoring. Mark Percival converted in tricky windy conditions, 0-6 Saints led.

A second Saints try came from the restart. Alex Walmsley did well initially to avoid being pushed under our own sticks with the first tackle before a strong carry from Dayon Sambou put Saints on the front foot. Welsby then broke again before being tackled and the following play, Jonny Lomax found Walmsley who offloaded to Sailor who did well to fend off some tackles and score his second try of the day under the sticks. Percival again added the two points, 0-12.

Catalans responded quickly. The hosts kept the ball alive on the last tackle, ex-Saint Tommy Makinson cut inside from the wing and kicked inside with the ball bouncing into the hands of Sam Tomkins who scored. Tomkins added the extras, 6-12.

We then had a trip to the video referee. Catalans kept the ball alive down their left edge as Tomkins found Nick Cotric who offloaded inside with Reimis Smith picking the loose ball up and finding Luke Keary who scored. The on-field call of no try was agreed with after a lengthy check, with Cotric ruled to be in touch.

Saints had a good opportunity to add to the lead off the back of a break by Percival which was followed by Catalans being caught offside. The visitors opted to run it but were unable to break down a stubborn Catalans defence as we headed towards the break.

We then had another trip to the video referee. The following set the Dragons were awarded a penalty which relieved the pressure. The hosts pushed into the Saints half before Tomkins stepped inside down the left edge and despite Welsby’s best efforts grounded the ball for his second try of the evening. He was unable to convert his own try, 10-12 Saints led.

Catalans had one last chance to take the lead in the final minute of the first half, but Smith was unable to collect a pass deep in Saints territory. Sailor’s early brace complimented by Percival’s conversions gave Saints a 10-12 lead at the break.

Within the first 90 seconds of the second half we had another trip to the video referee. A high kick by Lomax was allowed to bounce by the hosts and Sailor collected the loose ball and found Sambou who finished well in the corner. The on-field call was no try and the video referee agreed, with Sailor being ruled offside from the kick.

Saints again tried to add the first points of the second half. Jon Bennison broke down the right wing and tried to offload inside under pressure, but was ruled to have gone into touch before getting the ball away.

Catalans then had a prime opportunity to level the scores. Whilst under heavy pressure, Saints got caught offside under our own posts and the hosts opted for two points. Tomkins added the two points to level the scores at 12-12.

We then had our fourth trip to the video referee. The hosts chipped over the top and collected it before the ball came loose from a tackle. The referee said play on as Luke Keary found Cotric who kicked ahead with Elliott Whitehead claiming the kick before throwing a dummy to score. After a lengthy review the on-field call of try was reversed as Tevita Pangai was tackled in the build up.

As we entered the last ten minutes, the scores were still level. Saints tried to add another four-pointer on the last tackle as Percival tried to chase his own kick but Tomkins conceded a dropout which gave Saints the chance to apply more pressure. Saints re-took the lead from the repeat set. The visitors used up some tackles before Lomax stood back and nailed the one-pointer, 12-13 the visitors led.

The lead didn’t last long. Catalans claimed the restart, used up their tackles and Keary slotted a one-pointer to once again level the scores at 13-13.

Saints had a golden chance to once again take the lead as Keary knocked on inside his own half. The visitors applied some pressure but a loose offload from Walmsley gifted the Dragons the ball back, as Saints squandered the opportunity.

As we entered the final minute, Saints had another chance to score. Welsby returned the ball well to lay the platform and the Red V continued to march forward. Again, the ball was sent to Lomax and he delivered the same result to once again give Saints the lead with less than two minutes to go.

A Saints error late on gave Catalans one last set, Tomkins opted for a high kick on the last tackle which Theo Fages claimed but the visitors tackled him to seal a hard-fought 13-14 victory over the Dragons in Perpignan!

Match Summary

Catalans Dragons Team: Sam Tomkins, Tommy Makinson, Matthieu Laguerre, Reimis Smith, Nick Cotric, Luke Keary, Theo Fages, Tevita Pangai, Alrix Da Costa, Julian Bousquet, Bayley Sironen, Elliott Whitehead, Oliver Partington.

Interchanges: Arthur Romano, Chris Satae, Paul Seguier, Franck Maria.

18th Man: Guillermo Aispuro-Bichet.

Tries: Sam Tomkins (16, 35)

Conversions: Sam Tomkins (1 from 2)

Penalties: Sam Tomkins (1 from 1)

Dropgoal: Luke Keary (75)

Saints Team: Jack Welsby, Jon Bennison, Harry Robertson, Mark Percival, Dayon Sambou, Tristan Sailor, Jonny Lomax, Alex Walmsley, Moses Mbye, Matty Lees, Joe Batchelor, Matt Whitley, Morgan Knowles.

Interchanges: Daryl Clark, Jake Wingfield, Agnatius Passi, George Delaney.

18th Man: James Bell.

Tries: Tristan Sailor (6, 9)

Conversions: Mark Percival (2 from 2)

Dropgoal: Jonny Lomax (73, 78)

HT: 10-12

FT: 13-14

Club Mon 31 Mar

Catalans away tickets now on sale!

Saints Line up

1	Jack Welsby
5	Jon Bennison
26	Harry Robertson
4	Mark Percival
29	Dayon Sambou
6	Tristan Sailor
7	Jonny Lomax
8	Alex Walmsley
14	Moses Mbye
10	Matty Lees
16	Matt Whitley
12	Joe Batchelor
13	Morgan Knowles
9	Daryl Clark
17	Agnatius Paasi
18	Jake Wingfield
19	George Delaney

Catalans Dragons Line up

1	Sam Tomkins
2	Tommy Makinson
23	Matthieu Laguerre
4	Reimis Smith
5	Nick Cotric
21	Theo Fages
6	Luke Keary
8	Tevita Pangai Jr
14	Alrix Da Costa
9	Benjamin Garcia
17	Bayley Sironen
10	Julian Bousquet
13	Oliver Partington
3	Arthur Romano
15	Chris Satae
19	Paul Seguier
24	Franck Maria

Last updated 29 Mar 25 19:36:08

😤 The Saints beat the Dragons in Perpignan!

It was far from pretty, but a win is a win!

Full time sponsored by Liverpool John Lennon Airport

79'

Saints lose the ball as we look to close it out, Tomkins charges in and Paasi takes him a little high.

The Dragons fullback then looks to have hit Paasi on the ground with his elbow.

40 seconds left on the clock.

78'

Drop Goal

Jonny Lomax for Saints

LOMAX DROP GOAL AGAIN 🦵

Less than two minutes to go. COME ON SAINTS, HOLD THEM OUT.

🐲 13-14 😇

76'

Walmsley offloads, with the Dragons camped by their own line offloads and the hosts get onto it. Let off for the French team.

74'

Drop Goal

Luke Keary for Catalans Dragons

Keary adds a one-pointer to make it level once more.

🐲 13-13 😇

74'

Keary adds a one-pointer to make it level once more.

The Dragons went short from the kick-off and got it back, drove forward to get that drop-goal.

🐲 13-13 😇

72'

Drop Goal

Jonny Lomax for Saints

Lomax slots a one-pointer.

Seven and a half minutes to go, come on now Saints!

71'

Percival on the last dabs a small kick, Tomkins though clears it for a GLDO.

69'

Very well left kick by Welsby for a seven-tackle set, Saints now trying to roll down the other end.

69'

Whitehead slowly gets up, the referee tells him to play it and get on with it.

68'

Walmsley runs as the Saints shape up in the Dragons half, he’s judged to have obstructed a Dragons man.

67'

Keary’s kick hangs in the wind, but Wingfield catches and takes metres. Well done from our #18.

66'

Saints push the Dragons back once more, but on the last Whitley on the edge tries an offload to Sailor but he’s tackled.

65'

After a lengthy check, the tackle was complete, no try.

🐲 12-12 😇

65'

On the last Smith kicks for Pangai who looked to be tackled with the ball carrying arm on the floor before offloading, play goes on

The ball is kicked again to Whitehead, who goes in. VR called for, goes up as a try.

62'

Goal

Sam Tomkins for Catalans Dragons

Tomkins, before knocking it over, decides to talk some trash to Walmsley, and then kicks it.

61'

The Saints hold out Smith and Keary inches off the line, but the referee has judged that the Saints were offside and the hosts call for the tee bang in front of the posts.

60'

Cotric looked to be in for the Dragons, but Welsby made the last-ditch tackle to stop him.

Catalans then look to attack on the right, a short kick comes up and Sambou is judged to have knocked on after a kick.

59'

59′ Catalans have challenged an on-field call of a ball steal.

The challenge is successful, Catalans were tackled after the ball went loose and it’s tackle one for the hosts.

58'

Walmsley held from playing the ball, six-again given.

57'

Great defence from Whitley and Bennison as the hosts again throw more offloads and off the cuff.

55'

Walmsley back on, let’s have impact, Al.

54'

Brilliant tackling after some more off the cuff play by Catalans, and Lomax makes a big hit on Tomkins.

52'

Good kick by Saints which Cotric takes and just stays in the field of play.

51'

Back underway.

51'

Again there is an issue with the official’s communication devices, so time off.

50'

Saints again have the Dragons retreating back in their own 20 before a small chip is taken by Tomkins.

50'

🔄 Daryl Clark is now on the field.

49'

A Keary kick almost holds up in the try area, but Sambou does a perfect read to let it roll out.

47'

Bennison gets some space on the right wing, but it’s quickly cut down as he backs himself to race into the corner, but he sticks a foot in touch whilst looking for an offload.

46'

A very rare six-again for the Saints as the visitors move the hosts back into their own half.

46'

Keary under pressure kicks into the wind which the hosts then knock on too by our 40m line.

45'

Mbye on the last kicks high and the wind takes it further, Tomkins juggles it a little but takes it.

44'

Catalans bomb a good chance, but it’s St.Helens good line defence that forces them to knock a ball on

43'

Paasi on the last drives a carry but he believed it wasn’t last, a territory gift for the hosts

42'

Dragons start a set by the halfway line following that offside ruled out try, Tomkins on the last close to the line dribbles a short kick which Bennison leaps on.

41'

41′ Agony as Sambou goes in at the corner after Sailor catches a Lomax kick which was allowed to bounce.

Tristan looked to be inches in front of the ball being kicked though.

40'

Here we go then, back to business!

Slight issue with the officials communication device, so the teams are out but waiting to get the second half started.

⏭ Quarter Final next Sunday but our next home game, it’s Wakefield!

Get your tickets online!

⏸ A tight game in the South of France, which the Saints just have the edge in as we go into the break.

Half time sponsored by Liverpool John Lennon Airport

40'

Great defence to finish the half, the Saints take Nick Cotric into touch with seconds remaining. We form the scrum but the clock isn’t stopped and that’s the half.

36'

Good defence from the Saints keeping the hosts by their own half, Tomkins lifts a booming kick high which hangs in the wind. Batchelor rises highest to claim it.

34'

Try

Sam Tomkins for Catalans Dragons

Tomkins makes the most of that new set for the hosts, cutting inside and then forcing his way over. Welsby looked to get his legs under him but a Video Ref check confirms the score.

34'

Saints do well to keep Dragons out, but chaotic play from the French sees them get a fresh set.

31'

Silly error by Saints with the hosts inches off their own line, an Mbye pass to Lomax is too close to the ground and Catalans get it.

We compound it with an offside penalty too.

30'

Keary is offside at St.Helens march them back to their own line.

29'

Fages kicks from just in the Saints half, the ball bounces and flies out of the field of play – so strong is the wind.

27'

Makinson with a tackle on Percival stops an initial threat, Lomax then kicks high to the left corner and Tommy looked to touch it but backwards before we knock on.

26'

Lomax is taken out late by Oliver Partington.

25'

Catalans look to have knocked off after an offload, and even Bennison taking a player into touch, but the play is left to go on and then Keary puts the ball down in the in-goal claiming a try

VR check, no try by the ref

25'

The wind is brutal, the Saints kicks are going against gusts of 50-60mph.

24'

Sambou and Lomax kill off a Catalans attack following a high Keary kick to the corner, we have to come off our own line though.

23'

Sailor goes to punt the ball downfield by the halfway line, it comes off a Catalans man but deemed not played at by the hosts.

22'

Dragons get a penalty for that “high shot”, then a six-again is given too so plenty of pressure on our own line.

Our Saints do well to keep them out, but then Tomkins is loose to an offload, and we get it.

20'

Catalans get a penalty after pushing Saints back to our own line, Keary milks a “high shot” when there was nothing in it.

18'

Saints push Dragons back, and on the last Sailor is held short by the corner. Dragons have to come off their own line.

17'

Saints get the ball back after the wind held it up and pushed it back, Mbye collects it.

16'

Goal

Sam Tomkins for Catalans Dragons

Tomkins adds the kick.

15'

Try

Sam Tomkins for Catalans Dragons

Catalans strike back.

Dragons get a roll on, then Makinson cuts back inside and chips ahead, the wind holds it and the bounce is kind for Tomkins to ground it too.

12'

A six-again called against Saints, and our men meet Tevita Pangai Jr straight after it and drive him back.

10'

Goal

Mark Percival for Saints

Bang in front, Percy adds two more

Try

Tristan Sailor for Saints

SAILOR AGAIN!

Welsby at it again but on the other edge this time, but Makinson cuts him down. Lomax and Walmsley pass, Big Al gives a one hand pass to Trist who grabs an early brace!

Goal

Mark Percival for Saints

The wind swirling but Percival adds the two with his first kick of the day

🐲 0-6 😇

Try

Tristan Sailor for Saints

SAILORRRR! ⛵

Welsby breaks the line and passes inside to Tristan to cut out Tomkins defending and our #6 goes in for the opening points!

🐲 0-4 😇

A Tomkins kick is too strong in the wind and goes out by the dead-ball line, seven tackle Saints set.

🔄 Wingfield on in the place of Robertson, with Whitley now at centre.

🐲 0-0 😇

An early blow for the Saints, Harry Robertson comes off the field due to a HIA.

Makinson with his first run against the Saints, Batchelor, Knowles and Lees meet their former teammate well to stop him.

First challenge of a ball in the wind dealt with very well by Jack Welsby at fullback

Kick Off

▶ KICK-OFF! Match underway between the Dragons and the Saints at the Stade Gilbert Brutus!

It has been a bright but very windy day in Perpignan, and as we enter the evening in France it doesn’t look it’s going to die down so may be important to manage that in the game tonight