Dragons back on top
Catalans Dragons started to put their Challenge Cup disappointment behind them with a 38-20 Super League victory against Wakefield.
Last Updated: 01/09/07 9:47pm
Catalans Dragons started to put their Challenge Cup disappointment behind them by scoring a 38-20 Super League victory against Wakefield at the Stade Gilbert Brutus.
The Perpignan side, beaten 30-8 by St Helens in the showpiece Wembley final last weekend, scored six tries in all against the Wildcats, who touched down three times.
The visitors did take the initiative, courtesy of a Jamie Rooney penalty after eight minutes, but Les Catalans took the lead four minutes later when second rower Cyril Gossard touched down.
Stacey Jones - who kicked all six goals - converted, and after Rooney had missed another penalty attempt on the quarter hour, the home side went further ahead thanks to a Jason Croker try.
However, the remainder of the opening period saw Wakefield offer a more spirited display, with Rooney both touching down and converting to place them 12-8 behind at the interval.
The game proceeded to be a nip-and-tuck affair, with substitute Remi Casty scoring Catalans third try four minutes into the second half, before a Sam Obst response hauled Wakefield back once more.
With the score now 18-14 to the home side, it only took another five minutes for Justin Murphy to extend Catalans' lead, with another try from Clint Greenshields then putting the match beyond Wakefield's grasp.
There was time for Rooney to score another, however, and also time for a mass brawl which resulted in both Richard Moore and Alex Chan being sent off and Luke Quigley sin-binned.
And, with tempers more or less restored with three minutes remaining, the final scoreline was shaped when Adam Mogg crossed the line.
In spite of the result, both sides' positions in the Super League table remain unchanged, with Wakefield eighth and Les Catalans two places lower.