XIII rugby: largely victorious in Huddersfield, the Catalan dragons continue their rise

The job is made, the roadmap is filled: the Catalan dragons brought two points of their trip to Huddersfield this Sunday. On the lawn of the last of the Super League, the Sang et Or were offered their second success outside (18-38), after that won in Castleford (4-26) three weeks ago. It may not be up to the Rouste inflicted by Hull Kr on the Giants two weeks ago (4-50), but if it is recalled that Warrington (12-20) and Hull FC (10-11) have painfully won in John Smith’s Stadium, this victory with 20 points should not be overlooked.

Because this team needs to garner confidence and continue its rise in power. If the defeat in Brutus against St-Helens (13-14) did not validate perhaps the best match of the season by two points, the dragons won this Sunday a fifth success in six games, between SL and CUP. And it is important before an end of spring which promises to be Dantesque.

38 points outside for the first time in almost two years

In Huddersfield, the Catalans scored 38 points in Super League for the first time since March 16, 2024 against Castleford (40-14). Outside, it even dates from June 3, 2023 with this magnificent feat in Wigan (22-46). In short, this gives, anyway, relief to this performance. “It was not an easy match, because it’s always difficult to win here. So it’s an important victoryreacted the melee half Théo Fages. We knew that if we held them physically, we would take over over the match. This is what happened. Already when they took yellow (Hewitt in the 35th minute, editor’s note)then at the start of the second half. We have marked tests, we are starting to create good connections … We build well, we manage to be. “

Because it is true that with six trials marked, the players of Steve McNamara finally freed themselves. First in the first half, after twenty minutes a little inside, it was Luke Keary who found the solution, at the foot, in the back of the English defense for the trial of Tariq Sims (6-6, 22^e). Then, after a good job by Guillermo Aispuro-Bichet, it was Léo Darrélatour who planted his first Blealerille with the Dracs (6-10, 33^e). The latter continued their domination from the start of the second period with a trial full of opportunism by Julian Bousquet (6-20, 42^e), then a breakthrough full field of Bayley Sironen (6-26, 46^e).

Arthur Romano wounded

And if Jake Bibby believed to put the giants back in the match (12-26, 52^e), the blood and gold continued to support with a Paul Séguier in the finish of a very beautiful collective action, initiated on the left by Léo Darrélatour, Reimis Smith and Luke Keary (12-32, 58^e). Essays of all kinds, of all forms, with also Tevita Pangai Junior in power to seal the scoring (18-38, 79^e), which show that dragons can be complete when they want, especially when Keary and Fages direct the game as they did this Sunday. “With Luke, we feel a little better and it works better and better. You have to build on that”admits the one who played two seasons at Huddersfield (2022 and 2023).

These two points allow dragons (9^es6 pts) to stay in the good wagon of the championship. They have treated their goal-awkward, even if it is still negative (-2). But they gave themselves confidence before finding Salford next Saturday (7 p.m.) in Gilbert-Brus. A future meeting that the Arthur Romano center should miss, affected by an ischio.