Dragons v Warrington match report


Catalans Dragons (6) 12
T : Scott Dureau, Steve Menzies
G : Scott Dureau 2
DG :

Warrington Wolves (10) 14
T : Rhys Evans, Stefan Ratchford, Chris Riley
G : Brett Hodgson
DG :

Scott Dureau missed a late penalty attempt which would have earned Catalan Dragons a home Super League play-off against Hull FC next weekend.

The Dragons trailed by two points late in the game against Warrington Wolves when Dureau missed his penalty attempt and the home side lost 14-12.

Brett Hodgson had sent in Chris Riley for what proved to be a match-winning try 10 minutes from time that means the French side will now travel to the KC Stadium to face the Challenge Cup finalists as they look to give veteran Steve Menzies a fairytale send-off before he retires.

The home side were architects of their own downfall as they repeatedly dropped the ball and gifted the Wolves field position to build their early lead.

Warrington opened the scoring in the 12th minute following superb build-up play by Lee Briers, Hodgson and Chris Bridge which allowed Rhys Evans to slide over in the right corner despite Leon Pryce's best efforts to push him into touch.

Hodgson missed the resulting conversion, but added two points 10 minutes later as Stefan Ratchford extended the Warrington lead with a try under the posts that owed much to Ben Westwood's quick thinking and pass to Warrington's half-back.

Catalan continued to press and Menzies thought he had scored with a try but the referee ruled that Hodgson had grounded the ball.

Catalan did get on the scoreboard six minutes before the interval when Dureau intercepted Ratchford's pass and raced 70 metres to score. Dureau added the conversion to narrow the scores to 10-6 to the visitors at the Stade Gilbert Brutus.

The game continued in a scrappy fashion after the break and it was not until 62 minutes that Menzies touched down Dureau's kick through and with the resulting conversion the Dragons took the lead for the first time in the game.

It was left to Riley and Hodgson to break the Catalan hearts as the Warrington full-back sent out a wide pass to send in Riley in the left corner.

Warrington survived a late penalty attempt from Dureau as he missed with a goal attempt, the visitors hanging on to secure a narrow win.