Round 3
Les Catalans Dragons 30 d. Leeds Rhinos 22

2007 engage English Super League Index [Table] [Draw] [Player Stats] [Club Headlines]

Location: United Kingdom > National > First Grade Competition: engage English Super League

Catalans upset Rhinos in stunning second half display
Sun February 25, 2007
Source: www.superleague.co.uk

Catalans Dragons scored 18 unanswered second-half points to post their opening win of engage Super League XII as they deservedly inflicted Leeds Rhinos' first defeat of the season at an ecstatic Stade Gilbert Brutus.

Leeds sprang a huge surprise by naming skipper Kevin Sinfield in the hooking role in place of the injured Matt Diskin, Ian Kirke making his first appearance of the season off the bench.

For the Dragons, Thomas Bosc moved to stand-off to cover for the injured John Wilson.

Leeds started poorly, squandering possession, allowing Alex Chan to make a powerful bust which split the visitors' cover. Bosc was on hand to brush off Brent Webb for a try which Aaron Gorrell converted.

Sinfield's magic got Leeds back in the game from a tap on their own 20. He kicked down the length of the field to Scott Donald, who gathered but was just caught by Clint Greenshields, but Sinfield spread the ball quickly for Danny McGuire to send in Jamie Jones-Buchanan.

Catalans were back in front 10 minutes later after Rhinos conceded the first penalty, Gorrell's short ball sending in Chan between the posts.

Leeds just held firm after conceding two consecutive dropouts and hit back with an extraordinary score, second rower Jamie Thackray twice chipping over before regathering to score close to the posts. Sinfield converted to again bring the Rhinos level.

From the restart Jones-Buchanan broke clear and sent Donald racing to the posts from halfway.

Leeds posted a fourth try just before the break, Sinfield finding Webb whose superb long pass put Lee Smith over in the corner.

Catalans drew first blood in the second half with a brilliant, expansive move down the left, Bosc, Greenshields and Justin Murphy combining to send the impressive Casey McGuire over out wide.

That gave the Dragons renewed impetus and, after a period of sustained pressure, another superb Gorrell pass put Vincent Duport over on the left, Gorrell converting from the touchline to level.

With 14 minutes to go, Catalans hit the front, Bosc picking up a charge-down and hacking on, Smith spilling the ball for Dimitri Pelo to gather and score. Gorrell again converted from out wide.

With Leeds still struggling to complete their sets, the Dragons swept up field and, when Jamie Peacock was penalised for a high tackle on Chan, Gorrell landed the penalty from in front of the posts.

Catalans Dragons (12) 30
Tries: Bosc, Chan, McGuire, Duport, Pelo
Goals: Gorrell 5

Leeds Rhinos (22) 22
Tries: Jones-Buchanan, Thackray, Donald, Smith
Goals: Sinfield 3

Catalans Dragons: Greenshields, Murphy, Duport, Mogg, Pelo, Bosc, McGuire, Chan, Gorrell, Fellous, Raguin, Croker, Mounis.
Replacements: Guisset, Ferriol, Teixido, Gossard.

Leeds Rhinos: Webb, Donald, Toopi, Senior, Smith, McGuire, Burrow, Bailey, Sinfield, Leuluai, Jones-Buchanan, Peacock, Ellis.
Replacements: Lauitiiti, Kirke, Tansey, Thackray.

Referee: R Silverwood

Att: 7,630

Report source: www.superleague.co.uk


Headingley Insight: Leeds v Catalans
Fri February 23, 2007
In this weeks edition of Headingley Carnegie Insight, Leeds coach Tony Smith looks ahead to the Rhinos game at Catalans Dragons on Saturday, kick off 7.30pm (local time).

HOW TOUGH WILL THE DRAGONS BE?
It will be a very tough encounter for us against Catalans. We have watched their last two games on video this week, they were very unlucky to have come away with just one point from those two encounters and they could easily be going into this game on the back of two wins to start the season. They are a very tough side who are much improved from last season. They are well coached and well organised but we are looking forward to going down there and testing ourselves against them.

HOW WILL YOUR SQUAD COPE WITH RECENT INJURIES?
Every team has problems with injuries during the season, that is the reason you have a squad. It is unfortunate for Matt Diskin and Nick Scruton that they are sidelined at present but that gives someone else an opportunity. The likes of Ian Kirke and Carl Ablett are examples of players who have been working their way back from injury and looking for an opportunity to get back in the first team so it is all about people taking opportunities when they present themselves.

HOW PLEASED WERE YOU WITH LAST WEEKS PERFORMANCE?
There was some good handling considering the conditions from both sides. We showed some outstanding defence and to only concede a try that on another day would have run dead easily was pleasing.
We showed an improvement in some areas from the previous week at Salford and we will need to improve again this week to take on a determined Catalans side. They will be out for a big performance having narrowly missed out on a win two weeks running and we have to be ready to match that determination.

SINFIELD CLOSES IN ON HARRIS
Rhinos captain Kevin Sinfield is just 11 points short of overtaking former skipper Iestyn Harris to become the fourth highest points scorer of all time for Leeds.

Sinfield scored ten points in last week's win over Salford to take his total to 1422 whilst Harris accumulated 1433 in his five seasons at the club. If Sinfield scores the 11 points it will only leave legends John Holmes (1554), Joe Thompson (1883) and Lewis Jones (2920) ahead of him in the record books.

Tony Smith has included second row Ian Kirke and utility back Ashley Gibson in his 18 man squad for the trip to France. Kirke, who had surgery on both shoulders in the close season, is yet to feature in 2007 however he made 17 appearances in his debut season last year whilst Gibson missed out last week after suffering a leg injury against Salford on the opening day.

The 18 man squad in full is:

1 Brent Webb
2 Scott Donald
3 Clinton Toopi
4 Keith Senior
5 Lee Smith
6 Danny McGuire
7 Rob Burrow
8 Kylie Leuluai
10 Jamie Peacock
11 Jamie Jones-Buchanan
12 Gareth Ellis
13 Kevin Sinfield (c)
14 Ali Lauitiiti
15 Jamie Thackray
16 Ryan Bailey
18 Ian Kirke
20 Ashley Gibson
23 Jordan Tansey

LIVE COVERAGE OF GAME ONLINE
Don't forget to log on to www.leedsrugby.com to stay in touch with the Rhinos as they travel to France this weekend to take on Catalans Dragons. The match report for the game will be updated throughout the game to keep you up to date with how the Rhinos are getting on against the Dragons. Don't forget to log on on Saturday evening with kick off at 6.30pm in the UK.

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