Super League: Leeds Rhinos 18-26 Catalans Dragons - French side stay top with comeback win
- Published
Catalans Dragons have lost just once in Super League so far this season - winning 11 of 12 games
Betfred Super League |
|---|
Leeds (18) 18 |
Tries: Martin, Thompson, Sutcliffe Goals: Martin 3 |
Catalans (8) 26 |
Tries: Mourgue, Whitley, McMeeken, Yaha Goals: Maloney 2, Mourgue 3 |
Catalans Dragons maintained their lead at the top of Super League as they came from behind to beat Leeds Rhinos.
Arthur Mourgue crossed for Catalans but Leeds replied through Rhyse Martin, Bodene Thompson and Liam Sutcliffe for a 10-point lead at half-time.
Matt Whitley pulled Catalans back into the game and Mike McMeeken went over soon after for the visitors.
Fouad Yaha continued the turnaround as Catalans wrapped up the win and kept Leeds scoreless in the second half.
Victory for Catalans means they stay at the Super League summit with their 11th win of the season, while Leeds' four-game winning run comes to an end as they stay seventh.
Catalans got the first try of the game in impressive fashion as Mourgue powered his way past a succession of Leeds players to eventually ground the ball.
However, the Rhinos responded well with a better display in the latter part of the first half, with three quickfire tries to see them through to the break.
The hosts came into the match boosted by the return of captain Luke Gale, King Vuniyayawa and Cameron Smith but were without outside-back Jack Broadbent who has been ruled out for up to 12 weeks with a serious ankle injury.
The French side piled on the pressure in a comfortable second half showing, as they registered their 11th Super League win from 12 games in the league this season.
Catalans Dragons head coach Steve McNamara:
"We were 10 points down at half-time and I wasn't quite sure how we would react, but thankfully we reacted really well, so this was a different kind of win for us.
"We've played 14 games this season and 11 of them have been in England.
"It's an incredible feat from the players and we will get back at four o'clock this morning and lose a full night's sleep.
"But they just keep turning up and finding a way to win. We've got to ride this wave for as long as we can."
Leeds Rhinos boss Richard Agar told BBC Radio Leeds:
"I thought it was a mixed bag for us. I thought we had tonnes of energy in the first half and we definitely had a couple more chances to score.
"That would have taken the game into the balance. They controlled the ball, there were some big plays and when they got couple of chances they executed really well.
"We couldn't break that cycle and we didn't have the energy or field position to change the momentum of the game and get ourselves back in it."
Leeds: Myler, T Briscoe, Hurrell, Sutcliffe, L Briscoe, Leeming, Gale, Prior, Dwyer, Holroyd, Mellor, Martin, Thompson.
Interchanges: O'Connor, Vuniyayawa, Donaldson, Smith.
Catalans: S Tomkins, Davies, Langi, Whare, Yaha, Maloney, Mourgue, Bousquet, Garcia, J Tomkins, Whitley, McMeeken, Goudemand.
Interchanges: Seguier, Da Costa, Baitieri, Kasiano.
Referee: J. Child.
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