Catalan crush Wigan for huge win in Newcastle

Photo Credit – Adam Clarke

Catalan Dragons scored eight tries in a 46-22 thumping of Wigan Warriors at Magic Weekend.

Catalan opened the scoring in the third minute with a two pointer, after Wigan gave away a sloppy early penalty. But the Warriors regrouped and started to pile on the pressure themselves, they’re always such a dangerous side and the return of Jai Field bolstered their ranks.

They crossed for the first try of the game in the 9^th minute, Bevan French got his magical hands onto the ball and his pass sent Jake Wardle through a huge gap in the Catalan defence.

However, it was Catalan who then picked up the pace and in the 14^th minute capitalized on some mis-communication in the Wigan defence. Veteran Sam Tomkins pounced on a loose ball and grounded over the line to bring the Dragons their first try, before Wigan brought on more pressure by kicking the ball out on the full from kick off.

Catalan carried the ball forwards right up the middle before switching to the left through the hands, they beat the rushing wigan defence and sent Tom Johnstone sailing in the corner.

Just a few minutes later the Dragons found themselves on the Wigan try-line again. They went back to their trusty left edge but fooled the Wigan defence with a short ball that Matt Whitley took whilst crashing over the line.

The Dragons were absolutely dominating and it was Mitchell Pearce who was running the show with his hands, they continued their onslaught in the 28^th minute. The ball found its way again to the left, and again to Pearce who teed up his fullback Morgue to waltz over untouched, opening up a 20 point lead.

But as earlier stated, Wigan are always dangerous. They got themselves back into the game the first time they came close. The silky hands of Field allowed French the space to reach out and plant the ball down for a four pointer with five minutes to go in the first half.

Photo Credit – Adam Clarke

Wigan were crushed in the first half and trailed by 24-8, one of the largest halftime deficits they had faced all season. They needed to come out very strong in the second half to turn it around, but it only took Catalan two minutes to extend the already large lead.

Tomkins hoisted up a high bomb which Johnstone collected at height, the winger stumbled to the floor but crawled over the line to ground the ball for his second of the night. It was the worst possible start to the second stint for Wigan.

Eight minutes later Wigan’s pain turned to misery as Catalan scored another try courtesy of their left edge. Wigan’s right edge defence will be receiving the hair dryer treatment from Matty Peet because every time it was far to easy.

Tomkins was at the heart of it again as his short ball to Whitley was the key to unlocking the Wigan defence again. Whitley span out the tackle to claim his second of the afternoon.

The Wigan faithful had just started to cheer everything at this point as they new the game was over, the Wigan players looked dejected, unbothered and uncomfortable. Catalan were turning up the music and crossed the line a further two times in the next 10 minutes, with Johnstone claiming another Super League hattrick.

With 15 minutes to go the Warriors turned up, their play developed a bit more intensity and they were rewarded with three consolation tries through their wingers Abbas Miski and Liam Marshall, before Morgan Smithies pounced on a loose ball to cross with seconds remaining. It was all too little too late however, as the game fizzled out with little quality.

Job superbly done for Catalan who took their foot off the gas at the end, they travel back home this week to host Hull KR next weekend. The win took them to the top of the Super League table with Warrington yet to play this weekend. As for the Warriors, they travel to the home of their rivals St. Helens next Friday, so they need to pick themselves up and find form quickly.