Quarter Finals
Hull FC 23 l. Les Catalans Dragons 26

2007 Challenge Cup Index [Draw] [Player Stats] [Club Headlines]

Location: United Kingdom > National > First Grade Competition: Challenge Cup

Catalans upset Hull FC to qualify for Challenge Cup Semi-Finals
Mon June 11, 2007
Source: www.therfl.co.uk

Catalans Dragons created a piece of history at the KC Stadium by securing their first ever last-four spot in the Carnegie Challenge Cup courtesy of a fine win over ailing Hull FC.

Mick Potter's side, who have courted their fair share of negative publicity since being introduced to the engage Super League last season, should now have reason to believe they have earnt their right to play in England.

Having finished bottom of the ladder in their maiden season, there was much scepticism in the game about their presence and the insistence from the Rugby Football League that a French franchise could work.

However, some astute signings from Potter - most notably the Australian trio of Clint Greenshields, Adam Mogg and Luke Quigley who were influential in this win - have ensured the doubters are now retreating.

As reward for their improvement they now take their place alongside Bradford Bulls, St Helens and Wigan Warriors in Wednesday's semi-final draw, although Hull, the 2005 champions, rarely made it tough for them to do so.

Last season's grand finalists, the Black and Whites now find their season in disarray.

After trailing by 14 points at one stage, they did pull in front after an hour, only for Wayne Godwin to be sin-binned with 10 minutes remaining - and there the contest ended.

Their 16-12 win over Leeds three weeks ago had raised hopes but with his side out of the cup and 10 points off the second spot they occupied last season, coach Peter Sharp must now be facing some questions over the direction in which his side's season is heading.

Catalans, without the injured Jason Croker and Casey Maguire, were the quickest out of the blocks and led 16-8 at the interval thanks to a scintillating first half showing.

Mogg led the way with two tries, with John Wilson adding one, whilst Shaun Briscoe posted Hull's effort.

Mogg, who scored on this ground in an 11-11 draw on the opening weekend of the season, was the first to trouble the scoreboard on five minutes.

After he was denied a try by Kirk Yeaman's tackle, Sid Domic spilt Stacey Jones' kick from the subsequent play and from the resulting scrum Mogg made a similar run and this time made no mistake in crossing.

A Danny Tickle penalty then cancelled out Thomas Bosc's conversion, only for the former to waste a golden chance to pull his side level when he turned down the support of Richard Horne and Tommy Lee after breaking, only to be tackled by Greenshields.

Jones then sent a looping pass wide which was palmed down by Younes Khattabi into the path of Wilson who had a simple walk to the line, before in a carbon copy of his first try, Mogg extended the visitors' lead to 16-2.

The Hull fans made their feelings known and, although Briscoe pulled them back to 16-8 after an excellent Willie Manu break, Wilson's narrow failure to touch down after further excellent work from Jones and Greenshields only added to their frustrations.

It took 10 minutes of the second half for the mood to pick up, Paul King raising the spirits with a powerful close-range try.

Tickle's third goal of the afternoon brought Hull right back into the clash at 14-16. His fourth, a 58th-minute penalty, saw an unlikely levelling of the scores.

Horne then slotted a 20-metre drop goal to edge his side ahead, before six minutes later Jerome Guisset responded in kind from a similar range.

With the game poised dramatically at 17-17, Godwin then saw yellow for a late connection with kicker Jones and Bosc's subsequent penalty from out wide edged his side back in front.

The impressive Bosc then slotted another drop goal to secure the win, but only after Greenshields had again made a mockery of Hull's defence to post a fourth try.

Domic's last-minute consolation was of little consequence and was seen by few, with the majority of the Hull crowd long since departed.

Hull FC (8) 23
Tries: King, Briscoe, Domic
Goals: Tickle 5
Drop Goals: R Horne

Catalans Dragons (16) 26
Tries: Mogg 2, Wilson, Greenshields
Goals: Bosc 4
Drop Goals: Bosc, Guisset

Crowd: 7,441

Report source: www.therfl.co.uk

Article: Potter hails satisfying win

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