Dragons Catalans 0 – 6 London Broncos
40′ It’s back to Gilbert-Brutus
40′ The Catalan Dragons are behind at half-time.
Marcus Griffiths sends the 26 players back to the locker room. It’s a very sad spectacle that the Catalans are offering us in this last home match. In dire need of will, identity, determination, organization, technique, motivation, and morale, the list of what the Blood and Gold are lacking is endless…
The Perpignan players have 40 minutes left to save their honour, their match and their season….
38′ As he was about to take his hold, Benjamin Garcia dropped the ball…
Morale is low and even the “leaders” of this team are losing their rugby.
37′ London recover a kick but the Dragons push them straight into touch
Good Catalan defence after a kick from Abdull pushed Josh Rourke into touch on the 40-yard line. The Dragons went back on the attack. They had to score before the break.
36′ Jordan Abdull can’t find the touchline…
Penalized, London give the ball back in front of the Catalan in-goal. But when it comes to gaining ground by taking the penalty touch, Jordan Abdull does not find the touchline. London goes back on the attack…
32′ It’s a pass for Oli Leyland!
31′ And it goes on and on…
As usual and as it has been all season, the Dragons completely crack after half an hour of play. Lee Kershaw inherits a beautiful skipped pass in his corridor and finishes the job by walking… again…
28′ Behind him, it’s Benjamin Garcia who starts strong and seems to score. Video refereeing…
It is difficult to see from the different camera angles whether the captain has flattened or not. But the video referee of the game considers that the ball has not been in contact with the ground. Held at 10m, possession is still Catalan.
27′ Julian Bousquet in the in-goal area
What a season the Catalan pillar is having. From his first ball, he who started on the bench tonight, he breaks through the London defense and ends up in the in-goal area with 5 defenders on the board. Unfortunately the English defense saves itself by letting a hand drag under the ball…
26′ Arthur Mourgue decapitated, scuffle assured
On a dangerous run, the English defence let their arms hang a little too high and Sadiq Adebiyi, the Nigerian international, literally decapitated the Catalan full-back. No card for Mr Griffiths, just a penalty.
24′ Jarrod Wallace lets the ball slip in front of the line…
Perhaps a little too selfless, Jarrod Wallace tries to free a ball in a very difficult situation. The result is clear, forward in front of the line while we were playing the 3rd down. Another wasted try opportunity…
22′ The Dragons force London to concede the kick-off!
With a precise kick, Sam Tomkins puts the pressure on the London in-goal. Tom Davies’ chase is good, the Dragons will recover the leather.
18′ In the following action, it is London who fails to score once again
Under a pass from Jack Campagnolo, the Catalan defenders look at each other but do not get to the ball. Ethan Natoli, Pia’s new recruit in Super XIII, jumps higher than everyone and dies just a meter from the Catalan in-goal.
17′ Arthur Romano escapes but the Dragons fail to finish
In the left corridor, Arthur Romano bursts forward and finds himself face to face with Josh Rourke. Without support, the center tries to frame the overflow but is caught at the ankle by his opposite number. Behind him, the ball travels to the other touchline but without ever putting the London defense in danger….
12′ London already dangerous
For their first foray into the Catalan camp, London are already looking very dangerous. Hakim Miloudi is very close to scoring and the Catalan Dragons have to rely on their doyen Sam Tomkins to push the Londoner into touch.
6′ Bayley Sironen well launched in the interval but lets go of the ball
Well brought by Sam Tomkins in a gap between Ethan Natoli and Jarrod Basset, the Australian second row drops the ball on impact. After 3 chains of holding passed in front of the line, the Dragons leave the London camp empty-handed on all points.
5′ Bis repetita during the following action…
…but this time it’s Hakim Miloudi who cancels the 3 against 2 by attempting the interception. The French center makes a forward pass, 3rd consecutive chain for the Dragons in the London 10m.
4′ First scare for London but Lee Kershaw annihilates the action
Arthur Mourgue gets into the Catalan attack near the English in-goal. The international full-back skips the pass but Lee Kershaw knocks it on while trying to intercept. The ball goes to the Dragons.
0′ It’s on in Perpignan!
Jordan Abdull kicks things off!
A few small adjustments…
To host London, Steve McNamara and his staff made a few small changes, particularly in the organization of the team.
Up front first. In the absence of Micky McIlorum (calf) and Alrix Da Costa (shoulder), it is captain Benjamin Garcia who moves up to hooker. Mike McMeeken slides from the second to the third row and it is the Sims-Sironen pair who will complete the forward pack. Usual substitute, Chris Satae will start alongside Romain Navarette.
Behind, it is at the hinge that things change. Jordan Abdull signs his return to the competition against his training club. The fly-half will be aligned with Sam Tomkins who should play the entire game. In the center, Matt Ikuvalu still out leaves his place to Arthur Romano. The French international center who had missed the previous match is back alongside Reimis Smith. Tom Davies, Fouad Yaha and Arthur Mourgue complete the “back 5”.
A last for many players
As well as being the last home game of the season, it is also the last time that some players will step foot at Gilbert-Brutus in the red and yellow jersey. Micky McIlorum (113 matches) and Tom Davies (101 matches tonight) are flying to Hull KR.
Wingers Tom Johnstone (37 tries in 46 appearances) and Mike McMeeken (80 matches) head to Championship leaders Wakefield.
With them also leave Jarrod Wallace not retained by the club, Manu Ma’u will also retire. The center Matt Ikuvalu and Jordan Abdull were not retained by the club either and will leave the Perpignan franchise at the end of the exercise.
Leeds and Leigh in an unfavourable position…
Thanks to their two performances, Leeds and Leigh keep hope alive in the Catalan ranks. Last night, Leigh lost at home to the leader Hull KR (0-24) while the co-leader Wigan thrashed Leeds (38-0) on their ground.
2 very favourable results for the Blood and Gold. Indeed, in the event that the Dragons win against London and bring back the 2 points from Hull FC next weekend, we would only have to wait for a defeat by Leigh to qualify the Dracs on the wire. And where are the Leopards going? On the St-Helens pitch, a decisive match to seal the fate of not one but 3 teams at once.
The last one at home!
In a season with many ups and downs, the Dragons host the London Broncos for their last home game! Despite the fact that the Dragons are no longer masters of their destiny, victory is imperative tonight against London if they want to continue to dream of a possible qualification.
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