Round 10
Les Catalans Dragons 38 d. Salford City Reds 6

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

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

Salford winning streak crushed by rampant Catalans
Sun April 19, 2009
Source: www.superleague.co.uk

Salford Reds' three-match winning streak came to an end when their leg-weary side crashed to an eight-try defeat in engage Super League to the Catalan Dragons in Perpignan.

The Reds made far too many errors and despite a gutsy defensive display they could not stop a Greg Bird-orchestrated Catalans side from rolling over them in the second half.

Catalans started strongly with the video referee ruling out a Tomas Bosc try in the second minute for a double movement after Dimitri Pelo had snapped up a spilled ball.

Salford took the lead on 12 minutes when young centre Jordan Turner put out a superb pass for Stefan Ratchford to cross in the corner.

John Wilshere goaled superbly from the touchline to extends the visitors' advantage.

Catalans hit back six minutes later when former Wakefield Wildcats forward Oliver Elima split the Salford defence to put Pelo in for a try which the home side failed to convert.

Both sides were looking tired after their Easter exertions but when David Ferriol spilled the ball under Stuart Littler's tackle Remy Casty touched down and the video referee ruled a valid try.

The award was much to the displeasure of the Salford players and their mood was not improved as Bosc added the extras.

Salford were defending desperately as half-time approached and looked to have survived six sets on their own line before gifting Pelo his second try.

A defensive mix-up proved decisive as Richard Myler and new signing Daryl Goulding, who has joined on loan from Wigan, left a Bosc kick for each other and the French club capitalised for a 14-6 interval lead.

The second half was one-way traffic and a double strike from impressive centre Jean-Philippe Baile and a Bird conversion moved the Dragons out of sight.

Jerome Guissett, Kane Bentley and Steven Bell added further Dragons tries, much to the delight of their fans to leave Salford's travelling support to face the journey home disappointed.

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