| Catalans (28) 61 |
| Tries: Keighran 3, Garcia, Davies 2, Johnstone 2, Pearce, Ikuvalu Targets: Keighran 9, Tomkins Drop-goal: Tomkins |
| Leeds (0) 0 |
Catalans Dragons stored their League Leaders’ Protect hopes alive as they thrashed a Leeds Rhinos aspect with nothing left to play for in Perpignan.
They raced right into a 28-0 lead at half-time with Adam Keighran, Ben Garcia, Tom Johnstone and two Tom Davies tries as Leeds wilted within the south of France.
Mitchell Pearce bought on the board, whereas Johnstone and Keighran scored once more as Catalans racked up factors.
Matt Ikuvalu crossed and Keighran made it a hat-trick as Dragons romped dwelling.
With St Helens and Wigan each successful, Catalans needed to take two factors to remain within the hunt for high spot or at the very least a house semi-final which is afforded to the highest two, and did so in dominant vogue.
All three are stage on factors, and factors distinction will probably be key so this win was a significant fillip for head coach Steve McNamara.
They battered each edges of the Leeds defence, with Keighran and Johnstone contributing 5 between them – and their hyperlink up regularly shredded the duvet with tempo and talent.
Tyrone Might and Pearce had a platform to play from as Catalans dominated up entrance, and the back-line gorged on factors.
Leeds had their top-six hopes checked by a 50-0 battering by leaders Wigan final week and this additional crushing blow – a report summer-era league loss – marks the top of their probabilities.
Rohan Smith will probably be involved on the tail off, simply 12 months after they received by means of to the semi-finals with a bruising play-off win in Perpignan.
Not even the return of Harry Newman has kickstarted their attacking verve, because the Rhinos lacked the place to play from.
Catalans, who’re second, end the common season with a go to to Salford on Friday, leaders Wigan go to Leigh and third-placed St Helens host Hull FC.
Catalans: Tomkins; Davies, Ikuvalu, Keighran, Johnstone; Might, Pearce, McMeeken, McIlorum, Navarrete, Whitley, Seguier, Garcia.
Interchanges: Bousquet, Da Costa, Chan, Ma’u, Romano.
Leeds: Hooley; Fusitu’a, Newman, Handley, Olpherts; Martin, Sinfield, Oledzki, O’Connor, Holroyd, McDonnell, Gannon, C. Smith.
Interchanges: Johnson, Lisone, Donaldson, Ruan, Edgell.
Referee: Ben Thaler.