Hull KR crash to 34-24 loss to Catalans Dragons in France
Last Updated: 25/04/15 8:16pm
The Catalans Dragons grabbed their first Super League win in three games as they defeated Hull KR 34-24 in Perpignan.
Todd Carney returned for his first game in six and inspired them to victory as they ran in three tries in either half.
The Dragons crashed to a 50-20 loss to the Robins last month and they started strongly at the Stade Gilbert Brutus, with Jason Baitieri giving them a seventh-minute lead following good work by Zeb Taia.
However, Rovers responded with Maurice Blair charging over with a solo effort down the left, Josh Mantellato converting from the touchline.
Mantellato added a penalty to give Rovers the lead in the 19th minute, before Ben Cockayne scored in the right corner with a superb team try that saw the ball move from left to right with ease. Mantellato hit the post to leave the score 12-6 to the visitors.
Catalans levelled the game up on the half-hour mark, Gadwin Springer making his second appearance for the Catalans charging over to score, Bosc converting.
The Dragons then took the lead before the break, Michael Oldfield scoring in the right corner after Bosc and Elliott Whitehead combined well.
A try made in France - and the substitutes bench - came shortly after the interval. Gadwin Springer, Julian Bousquet and Benjamin Garcia all gave the home side field position before Eloi Pelissier crept over from acting half. Bosc converted to extend the Catalans' lead to 10 points.
Rovers refused to go away and on-loan Catalans player Kevin Larroyer broke clear from Terry Campese's pass and drew the full-back before passing to the supporting Kieran Dixon. Mantellato added the extras to reduce the deficit to 22-18.
But the Dragons restored their 10-point lead when Whitehead picked up Carney’s attempted offload, drew the full-back and offloaded to Ben Garcia who stepped two defenders on his way to the line.
With 11 minutes remaining, Whitehead scored a solo effort from short range, picking up at the play-the-ball to score and give the Catalans an unassailable 14-point lead.
Mantellato dived over in the corner with two minutes remaining after Ben Cockayne’s kick had been collected by Dixon, but it was mere consolation.