Super League: Catalans Dragons 26-16 St Helens

Sydney Roosters-bound Scott Dureau landed six goals to see Catalans beat Saints

Catalans Dragons held out for a crucial win against champions St Helens, who remain three points behind leaders Leeds at the top of Super League.

It also keeps the French club's faint hopes of a top four spot alive, although they are still six points behind Huddersfield in fourth.

Scott Dureau's six goals and another from Krisnan Inu proved key for the hosts as both teams scored three tries.

Not even the dismissal of Ben Pomeroy could halt the Dragons' momentum.

Saints are now third in the table, a point behind bitter rivals Wigan Warriors after they beat Huddersfield on Thursday.

Catalans' hopes of an unlikely place in Super League's four-team play-offs at the end of the Super 8s rest on their fine home form, with Leeds and Huddersfield the only two teams to win there this season.

In damp, gloomy conditions not becoming of Perpignan in August, Dureau's pass put Tony Gigot into a gap to score but Luke Walsh replied for Saints.

The home side then gained the advantage when Louis Anderson blasted over by the sticks, but it was short-lived as Morgan Escare's swinging arm gave St Helens a penalty and smart hands across to the right created the position for Matty Dawson to score.

Escare ensured Catalans had the final say of the half when he added the finishing touch to Thomas Bosc's breakaway after Mark Percival coughed up the ball.

Pomeroy was dismissed for a dangerous contact to the head of Josh Jones to leave the Dragons with 12 men, and with that in mind Dureau popped over a goal from a penalty award.

Saints looked to take advantage when Joe Greenwood crashed through as Catalans tired but Dawson passed up a huge opportunity when he lost the ball in the dive.

Greg Richards had a try chalked off for obstruction to further frustrate the Saints, who were stopped by huge defence in their bid to reduce arrears.

And Inu kicked Catalans' seventh goal to seal their win.

Catalans: Escare; Inu, Gigot, Pomeroy, Tonga; Bosc, Dureau; Elima, Henderson, Lima, Taia, Whitehead, Baitieri.

Replacements: Anderson, Pelissier, Garcia, Bousquet.

St Helens: Quinlan; Dawson, Percival, Jones, Swift; Burns, Walsh; Walmsley, Roby, Richards, Greenwood, Flanagan, Thompson.

Replacements: Amor, Masoe, Savelio, Davies.

Referee: Richard Silverwood (England).