Round 4
Les Catalans Dragons 22 l. Castleford Tigers 24

2009 engage English Super League Index [Table] [Draw] [Player Stats] [Club Headlines]

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

Tigers spoil Bird's Super League debut
Sun March 8, 2009
Source: www.superleague.co.uk

Castleford Tigers climbed up to third place in the engage Super League with a first away win over Catalans Dragons in Perpignan.

Centre James Evans marked his return from injury with a brace of tries as the Tigers made it three wins in a row for the first time in more than five years.

The Dragons were boosted by the return of centre Steven Bell from illness and second rower Jamal Fakir from suspension, while new signing Greg Bird started on the bench for his first appearance in engage Super League.

But Catalans never fully recovered from the shock of going 10-0 down after 21 minutes and, although they hit back to draw level at 18-18 in the second half, Castleford had the final say through substitute Rangi Chase.

Winger Kirk Dixon put the visitors ahead after 16 minutes and they doubled their score five minutes later when Evans went over for his first try, with Dixon adding the conversion.

The Dragons hit back through full-back Clint Greenshields after 24 minutes but Castleford right winger Richard Owen extended his side's lead a minute later.

Fakir touched down three minutes before the break and Thomas Bosc's second goal cut the Tigers' lead to only two points at half-time.

Evans then grabbed his second try within two minutes of the restart to stretch the visitors' lead to 18-12 but Dixon was off target for the third time and the misses began to look costly on the hour when winger Cyril Stacul went over for the Dragons' third try and Bosc's third goal tied the scores.

But Chase came up with the match-winner 10 minutes later, his first try for the club, and this time Dixon was on target with the goal.

Stacul grabbed his second try two minutes from the end but Bosc missed a chance to snatch a draw when he was off target for the first time with the conversion attempt.

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