Catalan Dragons 24-30 Leeds: Match report & reaction

Match stats: Catalan Dragons 24-30 Leeds Rhinos

Catalan Dragons tries: Anderson (11), Bousquet (26), Wiliame (35), Casty (52)
Conversions/penalties: Gigot (12, 26, 52, 78) 

Leeds Rhinos tries: Sutcliffe (2), Ward (39), Cuthbertson (72), Burrow (75), McGuire (80)
Conversions/penalties: Sutcliffe (2, 40, 72, 75, 80)

Match report

Leeds scored three tries in the last 15 minutes as they battled back to win 30-24 against Catalans Dragons in Perpignan.

Danny McGuire's late try completed the fightback for the Rhinos, who moved back up to third in the Super League table despite missing Ryan Hall and Kallum Watkins due to international duty.

Leeds started quickly and were rewarded with an early try through Liam Sutcliffe, who collected McGuire's kick and touched down to the right of the posts before converting to give his side a 6-0 lead.

Catalans, who lost the influential Greg Bird at half-time in their match earlier in the season, this time saw the Australian World Cup winner last only five minutes before he left the field with an eye injury after attempting to tackle Tom Briscoe.

But the hosts were level after 12 minutes. Lucas Albert fed Louis Anderson down the left and the second rower stepped past two Leeds defenders on his way to the try line.

With Luke Walsh and Krisnan Inu missing, Tony Gigot took over the kicking duties and added the conversion.

Catalans took the lead in the 24th minute when Richie Myler and Lucas Albert combined to send Julian Bousquet over.

The Dragons extended their lead six minutes before the interval as Bousquet popped a short pass to Brayden Wiliame who raced over to score his sixth try of the season. Gigot missed the conversion but Catalans had a 10-point advantage.

Leeds reduced the arrears in the dying seconds of the half, Stevie Ward barging his way over from short range.

Catalans had a Gigot effort ruled out in the opening minutes of the second half but did score in the 52nd minute through captain Remi Casty. 

Myler attacked and broke through the Leeds line before offloading to the supporting Casty to touch down under the posts.Leeds again trailed by 10 points but hit back in stunning fashion.

Joel Moon had a try ruled out for a knock-on before Adam Cuthbertson charged on to McGuire's pass to charge over from 30 metres out. Sutclife's conversion narrowed the deficit to four points.

The Rhinos had all the momentum and scored a second try in as many minutes as Rob Burrow latched on to the end of a flowing last tackle move that saw Ash Handley, Moon and Burrow all combine.

Sutcliffe's touchline conversion gave the Rhinos a 24-22 lead with 12 minutes remaining. With eight minutes left, Gigot levelled the game with a penalty after Leeds had held Thomas Bosc down in the tackle.

But McGuire stole the headlines with a solo effort, collecting the ball on the right before running across the field to break through a tiring Catalans defence. 

Match reaction

Leeds Rhinos coach Brian McDermott: "I thought Danny McGuire and Adam Cuthbertson were outstanding. Adam was hugely influential in that final 20 minutes but then Danny McGuire maintained calm and he had a good control over the majority of proceedings." 

"I thought we were great, none of it was brilliant, but we came over here and played against a team that has had a disappointing loss last week so they were really fired up. I said at half time that although it wasn't a vintage performance that that is what it is like here.

"It's tough to come here and get used to being put on the back foot and get used to being on your own try line whether you think you should be there or not and for whatever reason, get used to defending your own try line and let's see if we can dig one out." 

Catalans Dragons head coach Laurent Frayssinous: "I think there were two forward passes in the build up to of their two tries around 65 minutes. Unfortunately those two tries cost us. I am having the same conversations every week about how we don't get the 50-50 calls, today we didn't get the 60-40 calls.

"I understand the fans' frustrations and it is something that we have to deal with, but in tight games like today those decisions can make all the difference and they have done. I'd like to give Leeds some credit, they kept fighting to the end and got the two points and showed some real character in a tough game.

"I thought my players deserved a lot more today, it was a great effort from them and they deserved the win. Unfortunately circumstances were against us today."