Warrington 24-16 Catalans: Defeat in first game for Steve McNamara

Match stats: Warrington 24-16 Catalans

Warrington tries: Jullien (7), Atkins (22,60), Savelio (79)
Goals: Gidley (7,40,58,79) 

Catalans tries: Thornley (2), Myler (30,71)
Goals: Walsh (30,71) 

Match report

New Catalans boss Steve McNamara lost his first match in charge of the Dragons as Warrington claimed a hard-earned 24-16 Betfred Super League victory to keep their top eight hopes alive.

The former England and Bradford boss made the move from the New Zealand Warriors to the South of France this week on a two-and-a-half year contract to replace Laurent Frayssinous, who left the Dragons last month, but there was no dream start at the Halliwell Jones stadium.

Warrington's victory saw them leapfrog the Dragons into ninth place but last season's league leaders and losing Grand Finalists are still three points behind Wigan and Huddersfield with just four games remaining before the league splits.

Ryan Atkins played a key role in Warrington's victory as he claimed two tries and created another for Benjamin Jullien, with Andre Savelio also touching down for the Wolves. Kurt Gidley landed four goals.

In reply, Richie Myler scored two tries against his former club and Jodie Broughton also touched down for Catalans. Luke Walsh kicked two goals.

The Dragons were ahead after just two minutes when some crisp passing along the line allowed winger Jodie Broughton to squeeze over in the corner.

That lead lasted just five minutes though as the Wolves hit back when Jullien scored and Gidley converted to give the home side a 6-4 advantage.

After that early flurry of points both sides struggled to create any clear-cut openings with the Wolves especially guilty of making some basic errors when in possession.

But the home side did increase their lead on 21 minutes when Kevin Penny plucked Gidley's kick out of the air, only to be hauled down inches short. However, a quick play the ball allowed Atkins to dive over from dummy half to score.

On a rare foray into Warrington territory the Dragons posted their second try of the game on the half hour mark when half-back Myler scored a fine solo try, seeing off some poor defence on a 20-metre dash to the line.

Walsh converted to level the scores but in the final minute of the half Gidley was obstructed as he chased Patton's kick and the Australian landed the resulting penalty to give Warrington a 12-10 lead.

Heading into the final quarter the Wolves had added just a further Gidley penalty to lead 14-10, until just after the hour mark when Gidley's crossfield kick was plucked out of the air by Atkins for his second try of the game.

The game continued to have a scrappy feel about it with referee Phil Bentham also handing out a team warning to the French side after a string of penalties against the Dragons.

But with nine minutes remaining Catalans set up a tense finale when Myler followed up his own grubber kick close to the line to touch down and Walsh converted to make it 18-16.

But in frantic final few minutes Wolves full back Dagger made a thrilling 70 metre break which set up the position from which Savelio crashed over from close range and Gidley converted to seal the win.

Match reaction

Catalans coach Steve McNamara: "To see us compete and give ourselves a chance of winning the game up until the last three or four minutes means we have moved a step in the right direction. It's only one step and a small step - but it's certainly a right step.

"It was a tough start, not the highest quality of games, but I saw a side that showed a lot more resilience than over the last couple of weeks and managed to stay in the contest.

"I enjoyed being back in the Super League environment, the opportunity came up to coach Catalans and I was really keen to do so, it's a good club and a club with big ambitions and I'm hoping to fulfil those.

"It's been a whirIwind to be honest. I arrived late Tuesday afternoon, took a practice session on Wednesday and a captain's run so there was not a lot I could implement, but we had some good conversations and we went some way to doing some of the things we talked about doing.

"The biggest thing is we need to improve our discipline, not just penalties but in possession as well and the biggest area is in defence - you need to defend well to win games and that's what the team has not been able to do this season. That's an area I will be focusing very hard on.

"Whenever you change coach things aren't going great - so you see and feel the pressure players are under and part of a coach's job is to take the pressure off them and let them go out there and play."

Warrington coach Tony Smith: "It wasn't a spectacular game but I thought our effort was enormous.

"The game had some tension in it but there was lots of spirit and fight and we removed a lot of our errors, which gave us a chance to compete.

"I thought our back three of Will Dagger, Kevin Penny and Jack Johnson were error-free and did a fantastic job at the back, with us being without our usual three starters.

"The team just showed commitment to the cause and are fighting for each other and that's a great thing.

"We ticked one off today and we will worry about ticking another one off next week.

"There are plenty of twists and turns to happen and there will be couple of shocks and upsets, so all we can do is focus on the next game.

"This week we did it pretty well because Catalans were trying to impress a new coach and they tried really hard and a lot better than they have been in recent weeks and really had a shot as it.

"Steve will do a great job there, it will take some time but he will put things in place to make them a powerhouse club at some stage."