Super League: Catalan Dragons 20-16 Hull FC

Hull FC beat Catalans 36-34 back in February

Catalan Dragons survived a second-half comeback by Hull FC to secure their ninth win of the Super League season.

Morgan Escare and Michael Oldfield went over within five minutes of each other as the hosts started well.

Gareth Ellis closed the gap, but Benjamin Garcia's score meant Catalan led 16-4 at half-time.

Daryl Millard's try stretched the hosts' lead and they clung on to win after Kirk Yeaman and Jamie Shaul went over to set up a tense finish.

Hull welcomed back Tom Lineham after three months out with a broken ankle, but Liam Watts missed the trip to France after losing his passport, while Australian half-back Sam Williams made his Catalan debut.

The visitors had a good spell of early pressure but a giveaway resulted in a try from 90 metres out for Escare, who scored under the posts, with Thomas Bosc adding the extras.

Soon after, Leon Pryce's superbly-weighted kick to the right corner was collected by Oldfield, who out-jumped Fetuli Talanoa to go over. Bosc squandered the conversion attempt.

Hull produced a scrappy first-half performance, but scored six minutes before the break as Ellis dummied his way through, but Jordan Rankin's kick went across the face of the posts.

The hosts hit straight back as Garcia ghosted in to score, and Bosc's successful kick stretched Catalan's lead to 12 points at the break.

A great break by Greg Mounis set up a two-on-one break for Millard to touch down in the corner, but Bosc's conversation attempt hit the upright.

Richard Horne dropped the ball on the line to deny the visitors their second try and Millard had a try disallowed for Catalan by the TMO for a knock-on, before Hull finally found their feet.

Yeaman scored his first Hull try since the opening-day victory over Catalans and Joe Westerman set up Shaul, who evaded a tackle to go over, with Rankin successfully landing both kicks to close the gap to four points.

Bosc missed a 30-metre kick with time running out, but it was not costly as Catalan moved five points behind leaders Wigan.

Hull FC coach Lee Radford told BBC Radio Humberside:

"I thought uncharacteristic errors probably put us on the back foot and didn't allow us to build any pressure.

"Although we had two tries disallowed, we just couldn't build any consistent pressure in the first half.

"We can't sulk, we've got to get it out of our systems and build for Wakefield next week."

Catalan coach Laurent Frayssinous:

"Firstly, I'm very happy to get the two points. They were the most important thing for us.

"I think that we stopped playing in the last 20 minutes after the video referee decision went against us.

"I think that stopped our momentum and allowed them to get back into the game. That was disappointing from my point of view."

Saturday's line-ups

Catalans: Escare, Oldfield, Pomeroy, Duport, Millard, Pryce, Bosc, Simon, Henderson, Lima, Taia, Whitehead, Baitieri.

Replacements: Bousquet, Mounis, Garcia, Williams.

Hull FC: Shaul, Lineham, Crooks, Yeaman, Talanoa, Rankin, Horne, Paea, Heremaia, Bowden, Ellis, Tuson, Westerman.

Replacements: Paleaaesina, Thompson, Hadley, Sa.

Referee: Phil Bentham (RFL).