| Catalans (2) 12 |
| Tries: Tomkins Objectives: Keighran 4 |
| St Helens (0) 6 |
| Tries: Hopoate Objectives: Percival |
Sam Tomkins got here up with the clutch play and attempt to take Catalans Dragons again to the Grand Last and finish St Helens’ maintain on the Tremendous League title.
In a ferocious first half, the one factors got here from Adam Keighran for Catalans, who noticed Tom Johnstone’s strive dominated out for a push on Jonny Lomax.
Will Hopoate crossed to place Saints in entrance however Keighran’s objectives drew the Dragons stage in a decent affair.
Within the final seconds, Tomkins dummied to kick and scored to spark celebrations.
Tomkins’ affect on Catalans since his transfer to Perpignan 5 seasons in the past has been keenly felt, and it was becoming in his closing season that he was the person to ship a second Grand Last in three years.
Whereas he was capable of have a good time the massive second with a champagne end, ideas turned to James Roby and Louie McCarthy-Scarsbrook, each of whom had been bowing out with Saints after stellar careers.
They had been essential components of a Saints facet which received 4 Grand Finals in a row – significantly Roby, who as captain lifted the trophy in latest seasons.
Each groups gave the whole lot in a match which earlier than the explosive end was as nerve-shredding and bodily as any play-off recreation.
From minute one the tone was set by defensive savagery – a lot in order that factors had been at a premium and neither assault actually received moving into a pulsating Perpignan ambiance.
The place assaults failed, and aside from Johnstone’s chalked-off effort, it was all the way down to errors to provide factors, largely from the tee with Keighran taking a shot at purpose after a Saints misdemeanour.
The guests discovered extra rhythm after a stifling first half, finally cracking the Dragons line when Saints full-back Jack Welsby dropped off to Hopoate on a change, and the Tonga worldwide powered by for the primary strive.
Saints, who had an equally bruising recreation towards Warrington solely six days in the past and needed to journey to Perpignan for this recreation, did not convert additional probabilities because the Dragons muscled up defensively.
Conversely, they conceded low-cost penalties, notably when Matty Lees was sin-binned for holding down within the deal with, and that allowed Catalans to chip away at, after which cancel out the lead.
Golden-point time loomed, as a drop purpose likelihood was squandered by the house facet, however Tomkins’ smarts on the age of 34 noticed him dance past a drained defence and ship the Stade Gilbert Brutus into delirium.
The Perpignan help might want to discover flights, ferries and buses now to make the journey to Outdated Trafford on 14 October, after Steve McNamara added one other closing to his Problem Cup win and Grand Last look in his time in cost.
For Saints and Paul Wellens, the glory of turning into world champions again in February should suffice, after they got here so near a record-extending fifth straight Tremendous League Grand Last win.
Catalans: Tomkins; Davies, Keighran, Ikuvalu, Johnstone; Could, Pearce; Taukeiaho, McIlorum, McMeeken, Seguier, Whitley, Garcia.
Interchanges: Mourgue, Bousquet, Navarrete, Ma’u.
St Helens: Welsby; Makinson, Percival, Hopoate, Bennison; Lomax, Dodd; McCarthy-Scarsbrook, Roby, Lees, Mata’utia, Sironen, Knowles.
Interchanges: Walmsley, Bell, Delaney, Mbye.
Referee: Chris Kendall (RFL)