Williams magic gives Wire late win at Catalans

Betfred Super League

Catalans (2) 20

Tries: Balmforth 2, Aispuro-Bichet Goals: Aispuro-Bichet 4

Warrington (18) 24

Tries: Gardner, Williams, Crowther, Thewlis Goals: Thewlis 3, Sneyd

George Williams created a brilliant late try for Josh Thewlis to give Warrington victory just as it seemed Catalans Dragons had pulled off a remarkable comeback Super League win.

Skipper Williams had scored one try and made another for Jordy Crowther, while teenager Zack Gardner added another on his full debut to seemingly put Sam Burgess' team in the driving seat with an 18-2 lead at half-time.

Catalans fought back impressively, however, with on-loan Hull FC hooker Denive Balmforth scoring two tries and full-back Guillermo Aispuro-Bichet - a late replacement for the injured Sam Tomkins - another to edge the French side ahead 20-18 with six minutes to go.

Williams had the last word by leading a Warrington break and then producing a delicate kick with the outside of his boot to feed Thewlis for the winning try and make it three successive wins for the Wolves.

The victory sees Warrington move to within a point of sixth-placed Hull FC but it should have been much more comfortable after Wire threw away a comfortable half-time advantage.

There was drama before kick-off after thunderstorms left the surface at the Stade Gilbert Brutus sodden and Tomkins pulled out with a recurrence of his knee injury during the warm-up, meaning that Aispuro-Bichet stepped up from 18th man.

There was also controversy in the opening stages as Catalans winger Tommy Makinson was pulled back by referee Liam Rush for a knock-on as he was running clear for the opening try, only for a video review to back up the player's angry assertion that the ball had bounced off his head.

Rush apologised to the home side and after Aispuro-Bichet's penalty had put them ahead, Warrington took control.

First Gardner raced onto Marc Sneyd's kick to score and Williams marked his 250th Super League appearance by starting and finishing a sharp move.

Sneyd was troubled by an apparent thigh strain but before he was forced off he kicked a penalty which takes him level with former Wigan and Catalans player Pat Richards as the fifth-highest points scorer in Super League history.

Williams took a hand to increase the half-time lead, kicking through for Crowther to touch down and with Thewlis adding the extras, a16-point gap seemed too big for a struggling Catalans side who have now won just one of their past nine matches.

Balmforth, who signed on a month's loan just over a fortnight ago, came off the replacements bench to breathe life into the Dragons, feinting and dashing over to score.

Aispuro-Bichet then did well to pick up Makinson's scruffy offload and score, and after Balmforth had grabbed his second, Aispuro-Bichet's third conversion edged Catalans ahead.

Warrington summoned one last effort and the inspirational Williams led an attack down the right, exchanged passes with Sam Stone and then, on the gallop, somehow dabbed the ball to his right forThewlis to pick up and score the winning try.

George Williams produced a superb assist with the boot to give Warrington a late win at Catalans

Catalans coach Joel Tomkins:

"It's obviously disappointing to lose in such a close game but I've just spoken to the players and told them they should be proud of themselves.

"We've had massive challenges this season and we're working hard to find some form and consistency.

"To lose Sam in the warm-up was difficult but we have an excellent replacement in our 18th man Guillermo Aispuro-Bichet, he really is growing into a wonderful player.

"On the positive side we will have our captain Ben Garcia back next week and there are other players knocking on the door for selection."

Warrington boss Sam Burgess:

"We're always happy to get two points, especially here. We played well in the first half but we made some mistakes in the second.

"A bit of brilliance from George Williams got us home, I thought he was very good tonight, he was the difference for us.

"If you watch George's complete game, his defence is strong and his leadership so very important to us. He's a world-class player.

"Losing Marc Sneyd (to a groin injury) was a real challenge, he felt it early in the first half and struggled on as best as he could."

Catalans: Aispuro-Bichet, Makinson, Laguerre, Cotric, Yaha, Keary, Rouge, Satae, Da Costa, Navarette, Pangai Jr, Seguier, Partington

Interchanges: Bousquet, Dezaria, Maria, Balmforth

Warrington: Dufty, Josh Thewlis, Wrench, Gardner, Jake Thewlis, Williams, Sneyd, Yates, Powell, Vaughan, Stone, Fitzgibbon, Currie

Interchanges: Harrison, Ratchford, Philbin, Crowther

Referee: Liam Rush.