Catalans Dragons overcame a late Hull FC comeback to seal a 20-16 victory to continue their recent impressive run of results.

Leon Pryce had a hand in three of four Catalan tries to seal an impressive performance for the Dragons’ half-back.
Catalan had to contend with the late withdrawal of Louis Anderson from the side, as well as Setaimata Sa playing for Hull against his former side for the first time since departing to rugby union 18 months ago.

The hosts started brightly, with Ben Pomeroy seizing on a kick from Richard Horne in the 11th minute to release Morgan Escare for a 95-metre dash to score. Thomas Bosc added the conversion to give the hosts an early six-point-lead.

This was extended six minutes later, with Pryce putting in a high, cross-field kick to the right corner that was taken by Michael Oldfield, who touched down. Bosc missed the conversion.

Hull got back into the game just after the half-hour mark as Gareth Ellis capitalised on weak defence from Bosc to charge over and register Hull’s first points of the game. Jordan Rankin was unable to add the extras.
Pryce was tackled just short of the line before the interval, but Benjamin Garcia picked up to race over from short range to score under the posts. Bosc added the simple conversion to take the half time score to 16-4.

The Dragons must have thought they had the result wrapped up when Daryl Millard raced down the left touchline to score after a superb pass from Pryce, although Bosc missed the conversion.

Catalan then had a try ruled out on the hour after Vincent Duport was found to have taken a Hull player out off the ball earlier in the play and the visitors responded by crossing the whitewash twice.

They broke up field from the penalty and superb footwork from Fetuli Telanoa created space down the Hull left, with his neat offload to Kirk Yeaman sending the centre in at the left corner. Rankin added the touchline conversion to take the scores to 20-10.
Three minutes later, Hull were in again, Jamie Shaul taking Joe Westerman’s pass and rounding Millard on the right hand side in one motion before racing in at the right corner.

Rankin showed his kicking prowess by adding a second touchline conversion from the opposite side to narrow the scores to 20-16 with 15 minutes still to play.

As time was running down, Hull were awarded a scrum, but Josh Bowden knocked on with seconds remaining as Catalan held on for the win.