Super League: Catalans Dragons 20-16 St Helens
- Published
Mike McMeeken did not score but had a hand in tries for Dean Whare and Benjamin Jullien
Betfred Super League |
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Catalans (8) 20 |
Tries: Maloney, Whare, Jullien Goals: Maloney 4 |
St Helens (2) 16 |
Tries: Percival 2, Grace Goals: Coote 2 |
Catalans Dragons handed champions St Helens their first Super League defeat of the season in a bruising game in Perpignan.
James Maloney scored all the points to put the Dragons 8-0 ahead before Lachlan Coote replied with a penalty.
Dean Whare punished a Saints error after the break, while Mark Percival followed suit from a Dragons mistake.
Benjamin Jullien and Percival crossed, before Regan Grace set up a nervy finish when he dived in.
The loss means last year's regular season leaders Wigan are now the only side to maintain an unbeaten record in the 2021 Super League table.
Coincidentally, it is Wigan who next make the trip to the Occitane region next weekend.
Catalans lost Sam Tomkins and Samisoni Langi in the warm-up, but there was no let-up in their performance without their senior figures, as they stunned the Saints with their ferocity and physicality.
Arthur Mourgue - standing in for full-back Tomkins - was impressive, while the two halves Maloney and Josh Drinkwater used their kicking game to pin the visitors in cutely.
Mike McMeeken had a sensational game, using his powerful frame and subtle hands to create tries for Whare and Jullien and continue his impressive form since swapping Castleford for Perpignan.
Saints had been defensively solid this season, conceding just 34 points before their trip to the south of France, but were breached by the Dragons and then failed to fully execute in attack.
Kevin Naiqama had a chance ruled out for a foot in touch, Percival tossed away an opportunity for a score before he did cross when he passed forward with the line gaping for a try of his own.
They kept plugging away and got within four points of the hosts to set up a late frenzy, but could not overhaul the deficit.
Catalans Dragons: Mourgue; Davies, Whare, Laguerre, Yaha; Maloney, Drinkwater; Dudson, McIlorum, Bousquet, McMeeken, Jullien, Garcia.
Interchanges: Da Costa, Goudemand, J. Tomkins, Kasiano.
St Helens: Coote; Naiqama, Percival, Welsby, Grace; Lomax, Fages; Pa'asi, Roby, McCarthy-Scarsbrook, Mata'utia, Thompson, Knowles.
Interhchanges: Walmsley, Amor, Batchelor, Dodd.