Dragons roar past Warriors
Clint Greenshields grabbed a hat-trick to help Les Catalans beat Wigan 45-38 at the Stade Gilbert Brutus in Perpignan.
Last Updated: 14/06/08 9:50pm
Les Catalans moved themselves five points clear of Wigan in third after coming out 45-38 winners over the Warriors in a pulsating contest in Perpignan.
Clint Greenshields grabbed a hat-trick to help the French side record their second win of the season over Brian Noble's troops following a last-gasp 26-24 win at the JJB Stadium in April.
Wigan did at least see new recruit Cameron Phelps score, though his try, the last of the night, was no more than a mere consolation in the closing minutes.
It had looked so promising for the visitors at half time when they led 18-14, Pat Richards scoring their first try and also kicking three conversions to give them a slender lead.
Assist
The winger knocked back a kick from Trent Barrett to set up George Carmont for the Warriors' third try of the opening half, the other being scored by Joel Tomkins.
Les Catalans managed to remain in touching distance thanks in no small part to the efforts of Thomas Bosc, who finished with seven successful shots at goal.
The half-back slotted over a conversion of John Wilson's 13th minute score and then added a penalty to his tally before showing off his abilities in open play with an offload out of a two-man tackle that laid on Greenshields' first.
A cagey opening 40 minutes led way to a feast of points after the interval, Olivier Elima triggering the deluge by barging his way over from close range just after the re-start.
Although Richards' penalty levelled matters at 20 apiece, the Dragons put daylight between themselves and the Warriors with two tries in as many minutes.
Influential Mogg
The influential Adam Mogg bagged the first when he was adjudged to get the ball down on the whitewash and that was quickly followed by Greenshields finishing off Casey McGuire's break from inside the Dragons' own half.
Wigan briefly gave themselves a lifeline when Iafeta Paleaaesina's barnstorming run down the middle led to fellow forward Andy Coley scoring on the left.
But the New Zealand prop turned from hero to villain almost straight from the kick-off, his risky offload only ending up in the hands of Sebastien Raguin, who galloped in under the posts untouched.
Greenshields completed his treble to make sure of the two points, though Mogg made hammered the final nail in the Wigan coffin with a drop goal in the 78th minute.
In between Paleaaesina's sheer strength and determination got his name on the scoresheet, while Phelps helped himself to a try that at least meant he had something to celebrate from his first appearance in the Cherry and White shirt.