Super League: Wakefield Trinity 24-38 Catalans Dragons - Tom Johnstone scores debut hat-trick against old club
- Published
Tom Johnstone joined Catalans on a two-year deal after scoring 81 tries in 106 Super League appearances for Wakefield
Betfred Super League |
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Wakefield (12) 24 |
Tries: Jowitt, Hall, Ashurst, Gaskell Goals: Lino 4 |
Catalans (16) 38 |
Tries: Laguerre, Johnstone 3, Davies 2, Rouge Goals: Keighran 5 |
Tom Johnstone marked his Catalans Dragons debut with a hat-trick to help them to victory over former side Wakefield Trinity.
A Johnstone double and Matthieu Laguerre's effort gave the French side a 16-12 half-time lead as Max Jowitt and Corey Hall crossed for the hosts.
The winger completed his treble after the interval before Matty Ashurst reduced the arrears for Trinity.
Tom Davies scored twice for the Dragons to make Lee Gaskell's reply academic.
Cesar Rouge then picked up an interception to run under the posts in the final minute and cap a decent start to the season for Steve McNamara's men.
New Wakefield coach Mark Applegarth gave debuts to four new signings and they made the better start as Jowitt scored the opening try in stylish fashion.
However, Laguerre got the visitors on the scoreboard after fine work from Davies to keep the ball in play from a kick-through. Moments later Johnstone gathered another kick to put Catalans in front.
Mason Lino converted Hall's try to put Trinity back in front, but it was short-lived as Johnstone showed superb athleticism to catch a high ball and put it down.
McNamara's side, who finished fourth last season, maintained control from there and Johnstone was able to celebrate a dream debut hat-trick against the team he left at the end of 2022 after scoring 81 tries in 106 Super League appearances.
Wakefield coach Mark Applegarth:
"We came up with some unforced errors and got burned.
"It stings, but Catalans are a quality team and will punish you for it.
"As a collective, we've got to learn and we invited a lot of undue pressure on ourselves.
"But the effort was there and, when you score 24 points, it should be enough to win a game of rugby league."
Catalans coach Steve McNamara:
"They were three class finishes but Tom has been renowned for it throughout his career.
"He actually does a lot of hard work and some of his yardage carries early on were really good.
"I didn't want the quality of his performance to be determined by whether he scored a try or not, but to score three in spectacular fashion is one of the reasons why we signed him."
Wakefield: Jowitt; Lineham, Lyne, Langi, Murphy; Gaskell, Lino; Whitbread, Smith, Atoni, Pitts, Ashurst, Proctor.
Interchanges: Kay, Battye, Butler, Hall.
Catalans: Mourgue; Davies, Whitley, Laguerre, Johnstone; Keighran, Rouge; Navarrete, McIlorum, Seguier, Bousquet, Ma'u, Garcia.
Interchanges: Goudemand, Chan, Dezaria, Zenon.
Referee: T. Grant.