Warrington 26-28 Les Catalans
engage Super League, Halliwell Jones Stadium, Saturday March 18,
Match stats
Les Catalans produced a sensational performance on their travels to shock Warrington 28-26 at the Halliwell Jones Stadium.
The French side got new coach Mick Potter's reign off to a perfect start as they claimed their second win as a Super League club.
After heavy back-to-back defeats at home to Bradford and Leeds, the Dragons were given little chance of upsetting the odds against a Warrington side still on a high after last week's win at Wigan.
However, the form book was thrown out of the window in a see-saw game that could have gone either way.
It appeared Warrington would be picking up the two points when three tries at the start of the second half put them in control.
Yet the Dragons refused to be beaten and Adel Fellous' try on 71 minutes was converted by Michael Dobson to make sure the small section of travelling supporters would be heading home happy.
The visitors belied their recent poor run of form towith a bright start, although it was Warrington who scored the first points of the night.
Jon Clarke handed-off a defender to go in from close range to score a try that was converted by Lee Briers.
The setback did not dampen the Dragons' spirit, though, and they drew level when winger Justin Murphy got on the end of Gregory Mounis' kick to grab his first of the night.
Dobson converted from the touchline and, buoyed by their efforts, Les Catalans shocked the hosts with two tries in a seven-minute spell.
Thomas Bosc finished off a flowing move to go in for the first and that was soon followed by a try from substitute prop Lionel Teixido.
A second successful kick from Dobson put them 16-6 up and they looked set to go in with a comfortable cushion at the break until Chris Bridge slipped through their defences to score.
That try at the end of the opening 40 minutes boosted the Wolves' confidence and they roared into the lead after the re-start.
Martin Gleeson's quick pass sent Henry Fa'afili over on the right for the winger's eighth try of the campaign.
Ben Westwood crossed soon after and when Toe Kohe-Love danced through to score, Warrington looked likely to run away with the game.
However, led by the excellent Julien Rinaldi, the Dragons climbed off the canvas to claim an unlikely victory.
Murphy galloped in 40 metres to complete his brace and when Fellous barged his way over from close to the line the scores were level.
Dobson, a recent signing to replace the injured Stacey Jones, held his nerve to slot over his fourth conversion and give Les Catalans a crucial lead in the closing minutes.
Warrington (10) 26.
Tries: Clarke, Bridge, Fa'afili, Westwood, Kohe-Love.
Goals: Briers 3.
Catalans Dragons (16) 28.
Tries: Murphy 2, Bosc, Teixido, Fellous.
Goals: Dobson 4.
Att: 9,631
ENGAGE SUPER LEAGUE XI TABLE
Pos Team P W D L F A Pts
1 St Helens 6 6 0 0 171 70 12
2 Leeds 6 5 0 1 192 77 10
3 Bradford 6 4 1 1 156 104 9
4 Salford 6 4 0 2 132 80 8
5 Hull 5 2 0 3 124 106 4
6 Warrington 6 2 0 4 132 132 4
7 Huddersfield 5 2 0 3 92 110 4
8 Les Catalans 6 2 0 4 122 214 4
9 Castleford 5 2 0 3 108 200 4
10 Harlequins 5 1 1 3 70 124 3
11 Wigan 5 1 0 4 104 134 2
12 Wakefield 5 1 0 4 80 132 2
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