Super League: Catalans Dragons 21-8 Widnes Vikings

Former Man of Steel Pat Richards returned from Australia's NRL to join Catalans Dragons in 2016

Catalans recorded their third win in nine days as early pacesetters Widnes fell to a third successive defeat.

Pat Richards scored the only points of the first half, crossing after two minutes but missing the conversion.

Rhys Hanbury missed a penalty to leave Catalans 4-0 ahead at the break, before Vincent Duport widened the gap.

Corey Thompson and Hanbury drew Widnes level, but tries from Dave Taylor and Eloi Pelissier and a Thomas Bosc drop-goal sank Widnes late on.

Super League's surprise package Widnes suffered a disastrous Easter weekend, losing 28-10 to league leaders Warrington on Easter Friday before going down 20-12 to St Helens on Monday.

And they travelled to France to take on a Catalans side who had secured convincing wins over Salford Red Devils and Castleford Tigers during the same period.

Having trailed by four points at half-time, the Vikings produced a spirited display and battled back to 8-8 courtesy of a lovely floated pass from Joe Mellor out to Thompson and Hanbury's penalty following a Catalans' high tackle.

But Taylor pounced on a loose ball as Catalans scored a fortuitous try before Bosc slotted a drop-goal and Eloi Pelissier stretched for the line to leave the French outfit level on points with third-placed Widnes in the table.

Catalans: Escare, Broughton, Gigot, Duport, Richards, Bosc, Myler, Bousquet, Pelissier, Mason, Stewart, Taylor, Baitieri.

Replacements: Aiton, Mounis, Elima, Maria.

Widnes: Hanbury, Thompson, Dean, Runciman, Ah Van, Mellor, Gilmore, O'Carroll, Heremaia, Dudson, Whitley, Houston, Leuluai.

Replacements: Manuokafoa, Chamberlain, Brooks, Johnstone.