Round 27
St Helens 12 l. Les Catalans Dragons 24

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

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

Catalans upset Saints to grab last play-off spot
Sat September 12, 2009
Source: www.superleague.co.uk

Catalans Dragons produced one of the upsets of the season to claim the last engage Super League play-off spot.

The Dragons cast aside their recent poor form to earn a maiden victory at Knowsley Road and condemn an out-of-sorts St Helens to a fourth home defeat in the last match of the regular season.

Inspired by Australians Casey McGuire and Adam Mogg, the Catalans outplayed Saints for most of the game and, with steadier finishing, could have enjoyed an even greater margin of victory.

Catalans, who were without six regulars through injury, silenced the home crowd when winger Dimitri Pelo took Jean-Phillipe Baile's pass to cross for a fourth-minute try.

And, although Thomas Bosc could not add the goal, Pelo twice went close to adding further tries as the visitors successfully attacked the fragile Saints' right-hand side.

For the second successive home game Saints looked sluggish, although they hit back on 13 minutes when prop forward Tony Puletua took Sean Long's pass to power over for his 13th try of the season.

Johnny Lomax, deputising for injured full-back Paul Wellens, kicked the conversion to edge his side in front but the lively Catalans regained the lead midway through the first half when McGuire crashed over from Mogg's short pass, with Bosc adding the goal.

Both sides had their chances in a lively start to the second half.

McGuire, who tormented St Helens with his darting runs from dummy half, got full-back Clint Greenshields running through the heart of the home defence and set up the position for Bosc to increase the Dragons' lead with a penalty awarded for obstruction.

Saints' exciting half-back Kyle Eastmond then took play to the other end of the field with a brilliant break only for the move to end in disappointment when Ade Gardner knocked on at the corner.

It was a fleeting moment of magic from Saints, however, and the French side extended their lead on 56 minutes when Baile forced his way over for a third try after a Francis Meli knock-on.

Bosc's touchline conversion put the Dragons 18-6 in front and they clinched a famous victory when Greenshields sliced through for a fourth try on 67 minutes.

Once again Bosc kicked the difficult conversion to make it 24-6 but Saints at least had the final say when a break from stand-off Leon Pryce, playing the 300th game of his career, set up the position for skipper Keiron Cunningham to force his way over for a consolation try.

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