Super League: Catalans Dragons 26-0 Leeds Rhinos

Try: Davies, Johnstone, Mourgue, Da Costa Objectives: Mourgue 5

Catalans Dragons bounced back from two successive defeats as their well-earned Super League win against Leeds Rhinos moved them level on points with leaders Wigan Warriors.

Tom Davies scored the only try of the first half with Arthur Mourgue’s strike giving the home side an 8-0 half-time lead.

Tom Johnstone ran in from 80 to score a sensational try for the Catalans just before the hour mark.

The hosts held on for all they could until the end as, against the run of play, Mourgue weaved his way through a hole in the Leeds defense to crash against the posts, with Alrix Da Costa heading over to finish off a drive miserable in the south of France. for Leeds.

Les Dracs came into the game on the back of defeats at Leigh Leopards and Wigan but were ahead on 16 minutes at the Stade Gilbert Brutus.

Wigan’s earlier win against Huddersfield Giants lifted them to the top of the table, but victory for the Catalans means they are level on 16 points with the Cherry and Whites, St Helens and Warrington.

Their opening score came from a Lachlan Miller free kick which saw the hosts work the ball between Jayden Nikorima and Mourgue to send Davies through.

Johnstone came close to extending their lead after the break when he tried to clear his own shot for a corner.

The Dragons winger put too much weight on his kick though and the ball bounced into touch to the visitors’ relief.

That moment gave Johnstone the boost and shortly afterwards he was rewarded with his 33rd try in 40 games for the Catalans.

As Leeds gave the ball away cheaply following a tackle, the England international slotted in from deep in his own half to send the Catalans into a 14-point lead.

Mourgue had a fantastic game with ball and boot and scored a late try after opening up the Leeds defensive line to break through with just minutes remaining.

But the hosts weren’t done there as Da Costa piled on the misery on an afternoon to forget for Leeds as he palmed the ball over the line despite Justin Sangare’s best efforts.

Catalans: Mourgue; Davies, Romano, Ikuvalu, Johnstone; Nikorima, Abdull; Navarrete, McIlorum, Bousquet, Sims, Sironen, McMeeken.

Exchanges: Da Costa, Rouge, Satae, Maria.

Leeds: Miller; Edgell, Roberts, Martin, Handley; Frawley, Sinfield; Oledzki, O’Connor, Sangare, McDonnell, Goudemand, Smith.

Exchanges: Ackers, Lisone, Ruan, Johnson.