challenge cup final
CHALENGE CUP FINAL
CATALAN DRAGONS 20-14
WARRINGTON WOLVES
WACKY WILLIAME
The French side were more direct and purposeful from the
start and took the lead inside the first two minutes.
An uncharacteristic handling error from Wolves full-back
Stefan Ratchford gifted them an attacking position 10 metres out and quick
hands from David Mead and Benjamin Jullien gave winger Lewis Tierney the chance
to dive over at the corner.
Josh Drinkwater kicked the conversion from the touchline and
made it 8-0 five minutes later with a penalty awarded for a foul by
Warrington's veteran forward Ben Westwood, who was forced off shortly
afterwards to have treatment for a head knock.
A Wolves score seemed inevitable and it duly came after 28
minutes when Catalans winger Fouad Yaha fumbled Ratchford's high kick and
substitute Ben Murdoch-Masila pounced on the loose ball.
Roberts' conversion cut the deficit to just two points but
the Dragons broke away to add a second score six minutes before the break when
Benjamin Garcia, filling in temporarily at hooker for Michael McIlorum, forced
his way over from dummy half.
Drinkwater's third goal made it 14-6 and the Dragons were
virtually out of sight when a 40-20 kick from man-of-the-match Tony Gigot
created the position for centre Brayden Wiliame to go over for their third try
five minutes into the second half.
Drinkwater made it four out of four with the boot but
Warrington grabbed themselves a lifeline when the Catalans scrum-half fumbled
Brown's grubber kick and Roberts re-gathered to get substitute George King over
for their second try.
Roberts kicked a penalty to bring his side to within a
converted try and the Catalans players were out on their feet towards the end
of a dramatic finale as they clung on for a famous victory.
MY
OPINION
This will do a lot for French
Rugby |League and League for a lot of different nations as they have got the ambition
now that they can win a major trophy it might take time but it is not now a
sure thing for English sides to win and we might see teas from Ireland or
Scotland. They do need to get their form in the league if they stand any chance
at the play offs
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