Round 7
Harlequins 22 l. Les Catalans Dragons 24

2008 engage English Super League Index [Table] [Draw] [Player Stats] [Club Headlines]

Location: United Kingdom > National > First Grade Competition: engage English Super League

Catalans snatch late victory as Harlequins rue missed goals
Sat March 22, 2008
Source: www.superleague.co.uk

Catalans Dragons captain Gregory Mounis' late try completed a stunning second-half comeback to snatch victory by 24-22 as Harlequins loose-forward Henry Paul had a day to forget with the boot in engage Super League.

The former England rugby union international missed four out of five conversions and gifted Dragons their first half try.

Quins were in control at the break with an 18-6 lead and despite Australian centre David Howell completing a hat-trick after the interval they still managed to shoot themselves in the foot.

Brian McDermott's men had a dream start with the returning Paul crossing after just seven minutes when he raced on to Danny Orr's perfectly-weighted grubber-kick before adding the extras.

The Catalans failed to keep a lid on their emotions in the opening quarter and that lead to the next Quins try after 17 minutes.

Aaron Gorrell was penalised for not releasing in the tackle and from the resulting penalty Scott Hill and Orr worked the ball left before sending in Howell.

Howell was at it again five minutes later when Hill and Orr combined to split the Dragons defence wide open and the centre did the rest.

Catalans got back into the match on the half hour after Paul scuffed a goalline drop-out 20 yards and from the resulting set of six Gorrell dummied his way over from a yard with Thomas Bosc converting.

But Quins regained control immediately within a minute with the try of the match ? Mark McLinden, Hill and Rob Purdham all involved before Matthew Gafa finished off.

The Dragons made a storming start to the second period and reduced the deficit after 43 minutes when left-winger Dimitri Pelo out-jumped Rikki Sheriffe to get on the end of Bosc's bomb and go over in the corner with Bosc converting.

Catalans were level seven minutes later when McLinden knocked-on 10 yards from his own line and former Brisbane forward Dane Carlaw crashed over with Bosc converting again.

Quins regained the lead from their next set of six when Howell completed his hat-trick after Orr looped a pass to him and he went over despite the attention of three defenders.

Paul failed with his fourth conversion and the errors proved to be costly in the 66th minute when Bosc's grubber was touched down by Mounis and Bosc won the match with his fourth successful conversion.

Sheriffe almost nicked it at the death when he sliced through the Dragons defence but Dwayne Barker was held up over the line and the French side clung on for the win.

Report source: www.superleague.co.uk

Article: Potter pleased with Dragons fire

Advanced Search