Dragons v Tigers match report


 
 

Catalans Dragons (26) 44

T : Tony Gigot 3, Zeb Taia, Jeff Lima, Todd Carney, Morgan Escaré 2
G : Thomas Bosc 6

Castleford Tigers (6) 26

T : Justin Carney, Oliver Holmes, Adam Milner 2, Junior Moors
G : Luke Gale 3

 

Ben Pomeroy saw red for the second game in succession and Tony Gigot and Todd Carney inspired the Catalans Dragons as they beat Castleford Tigers 44-26 in the First Utility Super League Super 8s.

Pomeroy, sent from the field two weeks ago against St Helens, saw red for a dangerous throw on the unfortunate Ashley Gibson who landed on his neck and was taken to a local hospital for checks where he was diagnosed with whiplash.

Away from that, Catalans dented Castleford's hopes of playing in the end of season semi-finals with a backs-to-the-wall win over the high-flying Tigers.

The Tigers did not help their own cause, though, and their indiscipline saw them concede 11 penalties throughout the game.

As Carney pulled the strings, Gigot helped himself to a hat-trick as Castleford wilted in the humid conditions.

Castleford arrived in Perpignan buoyed by recent wins over Hull FC and Warrington Wolves in the Super 8s thus far, but were hugely disappointing as the Dragons raced into an early lead.

Gigot raced onto Morgan Escare's short ball to step his way to the line before Zeb Taia charged over the top of Liam Finn to extend the hosts' lead. Krisnan Inu missed both conversions to see the Catalans lead 8-0.

It got worse for the Tigers, Jeff Lima and Carney both touching down before Pomeroy's indiscretion on 28 minutes.

A minute later Castleford marked their first try of the game, Justin Carney collecting Luke Gale's kick to bring the Tigers back into the game. Gale added the conversion to take the score to 20-6.

Morgan Escare raced over from 80 metres out to settle the Catalans nerves in the closing seconds of the first half.

Castleford refused to go away and opened the scoring in the second half, Oliver Holmes racing in at the corner before Catalans scored the try of the game, an inch-perfect 30-metre pass from Carney sending Gigot in for his second try.

A neat Gale kick to the left corner saw Adam Milner race in at the corner to keep Castleford in the game however, Gigot's hat-trick try on 62 minutes secured the points for the home side, intercepting Carney's wide pass to race over from 40 metres out.

With nine minutes remaining Junior Moors powered his way over from Gale's pass, but this was cancelled out by Escare's second try of the game after an offload by Elima.

Castleford did have the final say of the game, Milner scoring his second in the left corner with three minutes remaining.

 

Team sheet

Dragons : Escaré, Inu, Gigot, Pomeroy, Sigismeau, Carney, Bosc, Elima, Pelissier, Lima, Taia, Whitehead, Baitieri
Bench: Henderson, Anderson, Garcia, Bousquet

Tigers : Roberts, Gibson, Channing, Shenton, Carney, Finn, Gale, Lynch, Milner, Millington, Holmes, Mcmeeken, Massey
Bench: Cook, Moors, Springer, Mcshane

Referee: Ben Thaler

Attendance: 7 473

Man of the match : Tony Gigot