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| Round 2 - Catalans Dragons Vs Hull KR |
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The first home game of the new season for the Dragons saw the visit of Hull KR to Gilbert Brutus. After the win against SuperLeague new boys Castleford, could Catalans back up the win against in-form and heavily recruited Hull KR?
Well it went down to the wire, and in a repeat of last season’s home opener against Wigan, the Dragons were denied in the dying minutes of the game, this time by a 50 something year old Stanley Gene. Here we bring you all the action. | |
The Dragons carried on where they left off last week and caught Hull KR as early as the fifth minute, when a Dane Carlaw break down the right gave Catalans the field position to build on. And good drives from firstly Guisset and then Carlaw allowed Aaron Gorrell to register his first of the season with a neat scoot from the play the ball.
Bosc failed with his conversion attempt, but six minutes later made amends when referee Hewer gave a penalty for Hull KR lying in the ruck leaving the score at 6-0.
On 18 minutes the Dragons had a perfect opportunity to increase their lead to 12 when a neat inside ball from Casey McGuire found Jerome Guisset who made the break, drew the full-back and threw a wild pass out to Adam Mogg, who failed to gather the ball and handed possession over to the Robins.
This year the Hull KR team is full of quality and you can ill afford to give up such blatant scoring opportunities. This was shown just two minutes later, when helped down field by a penalty for holding down, Rovers shifted the ball from right to left and when Chris Chester stepped an on-rushing Dane Carlaw to leave a massive gap he handed the ball to Galea who charged for the line, stepping Greenshields and taking David Ferriol over the line with him. Jake Webster added the extra’s from bang in front and the score was tied at 6-6.
Just six minutes later and the Dragons were back in front after a neat Thomas Bosc grubber kick to the left hand corner was collected by John Wilson who touched down just before going into touch.
Bosc made it 12-6 with a touchline conversion and the Dragons were good value for the lead.
From the kick-off a break from the returning Adam Mogg gave Catalans excellent field position and a 5th tackle kick from Casey McGuire with the outside of his boot (very Stacey Jones-esque) gained his team a Drop-Out. Remi Casty drove the first tackle back and gained a penalty for Hull KR again slowing down the play the ball. Bosc added the two points for the penalty and the lead was 8 at 14-6.
Just before the break Hull KR gave the Dragons a warning when a high James Webster kick tested Dimitri Pelo and the ball bounced off his head and into the arms of David Ferriol, who knocked on. The referee blew for the accidental offiside decision, however, had he allowed the advantage to Hull KR, there would surely have been a try given to Welham who followed up well.
Half Time Score: 14-6
Whatever Justin Morgan gave his boys at Half-Time it certainly worked and just three minutes into the half they had reduced the Catalans lead to two points.
After poor ball retention by Mathieu Griffi, another James Webster kick to Pelo saw Peter Fox rise high above his opposite number to claim the ball and score. With Jake Webster adding the extra two points from the touchline the score was 14-12.
Just five minutes later and the Half-Time team talk was really working when Hull KR took the lead for the first time in the game. A brilliant offload by Stanley Gene put Cockayne through a gap and after he drew Greenshields, he handed the ball onto Peter Fox who went the remaining 45 metres to score in the left hand corner. Again Jake Webster added the extra two and the score after 48 minutes was 14-18.
18 minutes to go and Catalans took the lead back and after great passing from first Gorrell, then McGuire, Thomas Bosc took on the defence and gave a simple pass to Clint Greenshields who scored under the posts. Bosc completed the formalities and the score was 20-18.
Three minutes to go and the French custom’s officer’s refusal to allow Stanley to take his zimmer frame into the country came back to haunt the Dragons. A last tackle play saw Stanley take the ball from acting half and put in a grubber kick towards the posts. After several ricochets He was the one with the most “gas in the tank” and the most desire to get to the ball to touch down. Referee Hewer handed the decision upstairs who was left with a simple decision to award the try. Webster again converted to break the Dragon’s hearts.
Best on the night for the Dragons was Dane Carlaw who showed his undoubted class with a blockbusting effort in the back row and he duly takes the sang-et-or.net man of the match award. Second in the voting, picking up two player of the season points was Adam Mogg; how refreshing it was to see him back in the centres despite Jean-Phillippe Baile's efforts the previous week. Final point goes to Thomas Bosc - again influential with hand and foot. He looks set for a big year in the blood and gold of his club and the blue of his country.
MATCH FACTS
DRAGONS 20-24 HULL KR
| | DRAGONS | T | G | DG | | HULL KR | T | G | DG |
| 1 | Greenshields | 1 | | | 1 | Briscoe | | | |
| 23 | Stacul | | | | 2 | Fox | 2 | | |
| 3 | Wilson | 1 | | | 25 | Welham | | | |
| 24 | Mogg | | | | 4 | Jake Webster | | 4 | |
| 5 | Pelo | | | | 5 | Fitzhenry | | | |
| 6 | Bosc | | 4 | | 28 | Chester | | | |
| 7 | McGuire | | | | 7 | James Webster | | | |
| 8 | Ferriol | | | | 20 | Vella | | | |
| 9 | Gorrell | 1 | | | 22 | Kirk Netherton | | | |
| 10 | Guisset | | | | 16 | Jason Netherton | | | |
| 17 | Gossard | | | | 11 | Newton | | | |
| 14 | Carlaw | | | | 12 | Galea | 1 | | |
| 19 | Chan | | | | 14 | Gene | 1 | | |
| 13 | Mounis | | | | 15 | Cockayne | | | |
| 24 | Casty | | | | 17 | Aizue | | | |
| 15 | Griffi | | | | 10 | Mills | | | |
| 11 | Raguin | | | | 8 | Crossman | | | |
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