Catalans beat Wigan to win Wheelchair Challenge Cup final

Betfred Wheelchair Challenge Cup Final

Catalans (34) 81

Try: Bourson 4, N Clausells 3, Vargas 3, Bechara 3, Dore Objectives: N Clausells 4, Bechara, G Clausells 7 Drop goal: G Clausells

Wigan (12) 18

Try: D Roberts, Rigby 2 Objectives: D Roberts 2, Heggie

Catalans Dragons stormed to a second successive Wheelchair Challenge Cup title as they defeated reigning Super League champions Wigan Warriors in Sheffield.

Jeremy Bourson crashed over three times and Nico Clausells crossed twice as the Catalans led 34-12 at half-time, with Dec Roberts and Adam Rigby replying for Wigan.

Les Dracs captain Sebastien Bechara completed a second-half hat-trick after scoring his first less than a minute after the restart, while Arno Vargas also registered a hat-trick of his own.

Bourson crossed for the fourth and Damien Dore got his name on the scoresheet before Rigby added his second as a late consolation for Wigan, but Nico Clausells slotted in to complete his hat-trick in the last seconds.

The Catalans had already brushed aside Wigan to become the first European wheelchair rugby league club champions in April.

However, the Warriors came into the game on the back of a 48-30 triumph over last year’s runners-up Leeds Rhinos in the semi-final.

Nico Clausells beat Roberts in the build-up to the landing with just millimeters to spare for Les Dracs’ second try of the afternoon after Bourson put them on their feet.

The Catalans did not run out of steam in a stunning first half and were three tries up in just 12 minutes when they worked the ball through to Vargas, who scored in the corner following a fluid team move.

Bourson tried to add his second, and the Catalans’ fourth, before the break, but Roberts’ powerful score, followed by a smart move by Wigan to send on Rigby, reduced the deficit.

The Dragons weren’t done before the break though and Nico raced over for another solo try and Bourson completed his hat-trick in style as he flowed in from the right to stun the Warriors.

The French side picked up where they left off thanks to Bechara’s quick double, the second of which came thanks to some stunning work by Bourson in the build-up.

Vargas’ hat-trick followed a Victor Puly offload and a smart move in the corner, but the pick of the bunch for the Catalans came when Gilles Clausells chipped the ball deep into the Wigan half to score Bourson’s fourth.

A clinical performance continued with Dore coolly slotting home the Catalans’ 12th try and Bechara bursting into a lung-busting run to score under the posts to wrap up the win in style – but Nico Clausells still had time to complete things.

“We’re really connected as a team”

Catalans Dragons captain Sebastien Bechara told BBC Sport:

“We always like to win. We train hard all year round, we train hard every year. We often have quite a bit of success and when it does we are really excited.

“We always talk about being really connected as a team. We train so well together and I think that makes the difference when we are on the pitch.

“We wanted that early lead and we just kept going and it was a great performance.”

Catalans: Bechara, G Clausells, N Clausells, Bourson, Vargas, Dore, Puly, Hivernat, Lacombe.

Wigan: Greenhalgh, Lane, N Roberts, Heggie, D Roberts, Rigby, P Roberts, Williams, Burton-Carter.

Referee: Ollie Cruickshank.