Catalans Dragons (22) 32
T : Willie Tonga 2, Eloi Pelissier 2, Mathias Pala, Damien Cardace
G : Thomas Bosc 3, Scott Dureau

Widnes Vikings (4) 16
T : Jack Owens, Stefan Marsh, Alex Gerrard
G : Jack Owens 2

Catalans Dragons maintained their revival with a 32-16 win against under-strength Widnes Vikings.

Two tries apiece from Willie Tonga and Eloi Pelissier and further scores from Mathias Pala and Damien Cardace clinched a second successive win for the Perpignan side, having thumped Wakefield Trinity Wildcats 40-4 on Thursday.

Jack Owens, Stefan Marsh and Alex Gerrard crossed for Widnes but a 22-0 first-half deficit was too much to overcome.

Vikings coach Denis Betts made eight changes after Thursday's 30-10 derby win against Warrington Wolves in order to prepare his team for Friday's clash away to Hull FC.

It was soon apparent that the Vikings' minds were on their next game as in the fifth minute Tonga profited from indecision in the Widnes ranks, with no one attempting to claim Ian Henderson's kick through except the former Australia international. Thomas Bosc added the conversion to give the hosts an early six-point lead.

Catalans doubled their lead four minutes later when Henderson's pass sent Elliott Whitehead clear and he drew the cover defence and offloaded inside to the supporting Pelissier, who scored under the posts. Bosc added the simple conversion.

Catalans were red hot, extending their advantage further in the 12th minute. A kick from Morgan Escare, back from a one-game suspension, bounced horribly for the Widnes defenders and Tonga beat Escare to the touchdown. Bosc successfully added the conversion from the left touchline to take the score to 18-0.

Everything the Dragons tried came off, Scott Dureau and Bosc combining to send in Pala in at the corner to give the Dragons a 22-0 lead after 22 minutes.

Matt Whitley was sin-binned on 25 minutes for a late hit on Dureau after he had kicked the ball and while Widnes were down to 12 men, they scored their first points of the game, Tom Gilmore's wide pass sending Owens in at the right corner.

Owens missed the resulting conversion and the score remained 22-4 at the break.

Widnes started the brighter after the interval, Marsh charging over despite Pala's best efforts and Owens this time adding the conversion to reduce the Catalan lead to 12 points.

Just before the hour mark, Pelissier added his second try of the game, scooting over from close range. Dureau took over the kicking duties and added the touchline conversion.

Cardace continued his rich vein of form with a try from Dureau's kick on 62 minutes. Dureau missed the conversion on this occasion and the score remained 32-10.

Fourteen minutes from time Phil Joseph sent Gerrard over under the posts with a neat pass and Owens added the conversion to take the score to 32-16.

The game saw a scrappy finish with both sides dropping the ball at crucial times that saw them unable to add to the scores.

Team Sheet

Dragons : Escaré, Cardace, Pomeroy, Tonga, Pala, Bosc, Dureau, Casty , Henderson, Garcia, Taia, Whitehead, Baitieri
Remplaçants : Anderson, Mounis, Pelissier, Bousquet

Widnes : Craven, Owens, Hulme, Marsh, Ah Van, Gilmore, Gore, Joseph, White, Kavanagh, Leuluai, Galea, Gerrard
Remplaçants : Phelps, Manuokafoa, Whitley, Heremaia
 

Attendance: 9683

Referee: Ben Thaler

Man of the match : Ian Henderson

Sin Bin
Widnes : Matt Whitley