Match Report – Catalans 14 – 6 Leigh

Catalans Dragons led Leigh 8-0 at half-time thanks to an Arthur Mourgue penalty and a Tom Johnstone try, before Mickael Goudemand helped seal a second-half Super League victory for the French side.

Joe Wardle Leigh handled by Catalans Cesar Rouge and Matthieu Laguerre (Image by Olly Hassell/SWpix.com)

Leigh gave Catalans Dragons a scare before losing 14-6 in Perpignan.

Newly-promoted Leopards put up a brave fight but a second-half try from Dragons’ Mickael Goudemand handed the visitors their second defeat of the season at a cold and gray Stade Gilbert Brutus.

Leigh had full credit for a narrow 8-0 half-time deficit and almost spoiled their chances thanks to a good performance from scrum-half Lachlan Lam but just didn’t have enough quality to bring home the points.

The Catalans lost second-row Matt Whitley and center Adam Keighran before kick-off and are without the injured Mitchell Pearce, Mike McMeeken and Tyrone May, but they have enough reserves to cope with Leigh’s spirited performance.

Sam Tomkins returned to action at scrum-half alongside young French international Cesar Rouge, but Leopards, who lost influential hooker Edwin Ipape earlier in the game to an ankle injury, held their own.

The game was scoreless until Tomkins’ team player in wing-back Arthur Mourgue was awarded a penalty in the 30th minute.

Five minutes later Tom Johnstone crossed down the left to score the first try of the game, Mourgue slotting in from the touchline to put the Catalans 8-0 up at half-time.

Leigh hit back early in the second half when Lam caused chaos in the Catalans defense with a kick to the line, which second rower Joe Wardle caught and cleared.

Ben Reynolds added the conversion to put the visitors within two points.

And Leopards held the Dragons for long periods until Goudemand split their defense with a powerful 10-metre burst to score in the 66th minute, Mourgue’s conversion making it 14-6.

Leigh were still not going to be involved and stood firm as the Catalans followed through with a number of penalties and increased possession late in the game.

What’s next?

the Catalans return to action at home to Hull FC on Saturday, March 3, when Leigh was on the road against Hull KR.