Super League: Catalans Dragons 32-30 Hull KR - Arthur Mourgue slots late kick as leaders win

Two-try back-rower Matt Whitley signed a new contract with Catalans in December

Leaders Catalans Dragons survived a huge scare as they hit back from a 14-point half-time deficit to earn a 13th win in 14 Super League games this term.

The visitors twice led through tries by Jordan Abdull and Shaun Kenny-Dowall, but Matt Whitley and Sam Tomkins' efforts left the match level at 12-12.

Stylish tries by Greg Minikin and Adam Quinlan helped Hull go 26-12 ahead.

But second-half scores by Whitley, Sam Kasiano and Fouad Yaha, and an Arthur Mourgue kick, secured a thrilling win.

The below-par leaders were made to work as hard as they have all season against a Hull side who had lost four of their 10 league matches prior to the trip to Perpignan, and had not played since 18 June because of Covid-19 cancellations.

Catalans were due to be hosting Castleford, but the game had to be postponed because of Covid, leading to a hastily rearranged meeting.

But the visitors looked anything but rusty in the searing heat in France, with Abull setting the tone early on when he burst through after a break by Brad Takairangi for the opening try.

He added the extras - one of five successful first-half kicks - but Matt Whitley went over in reply after some sloppy work by Hull near to their own line.

The breathless pace continued as Kane Linnett then teed up Kenny-Dowall to restore the lead, only for Sam Tomkins to jink through from close range for Catalans.

But Hull earned a 26-12 interval lead, Minikin scoring under the posts after a cute Abdull kick and Quinlan finishing off another slick move.

There was no second-half let-up, with Dragons upping the tempo in a relentless display.

Nifty footwork helped Whitley cross and, after Abdull powered over for his second try for a 30-18 lead, a two-try burst by Kasiano and Yaha levelled the match at 30-30.

Mourgue then kept his cool to convert a 71st-minute penalty and the hosts held on for a two-point win and a club-record 10th win in a row.

Catalans boss Steve McNamara: "Of course I'm pleased that we won but I'm really unhappy with the performance.

"In the last three games, where we've had to come back, we have had to be very disciplined but it's quite clear that we are not at the top of our game.

"We just couldn't cope with Jordan Abdull's kicking game, we didn't field some balls on the full that we should have and they scored the points and built up a strong lead.

"We're not sure yet but there could be a potential broken arm for Ben Garcia and we'll get that X-rayed."

Hull KR coach Tony Smith: "I was pleased with the effort but not so much with the overall performance.

"We controlled the game really well in the first half. But we had really poor control and discipline in the second half.

"We had a great opportunity there to turn our opponents over but all credit to Catalans for fighting back so strongly.

"It's difficult to lose a game like that, particularly when you've played so well in the first half with some great individual performances. But collectively in the second half we weren't great."

Catalans: S. Tomkins, Davies, Whare, Langi, Yaha, Mourgue, Drinkwater, Garcia, McMeeken, Whitley, Dudson, Da Costa, Bousquet.

Interchanges: Jullien, Seguier, Goudemand, Kasiano.

Hull KR: Quinlan, Crooks, Minikin, Kenny-Dowall, Hall, Takairangi, Abdull, Hadley, Johnson, Linnett, Maher, Litten, Lawler.

Interchanges: Vete, Parcell, Sims, King.

Referee: James Child (RFL).

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