Rugby League: The Dragons find Gilbert-Brutus with panache, but their defense remains under surveillance

Forty-two days after their last appearance at Gilbert-Brutus, the Catalan Dragons finally found Perpignan this Saturday. A winning comeback (34-28) against the Castleford Tigers who were quickly overwhelmed by the volume of play imposed by the Catalans. The Dracs responded collectively, displaying great mastery for an hour. But, once again, their defense revealed too many flaws. A project to be completed before the reception in Bradford next Saturday.One week before summer and its festivals, the Super League resumed its rights at Gilbert-Brutus. In stifling heat, the first of the season, the two teams delivered a spectacular match marked by no less than eleven tries. A total far too high for teams aiming for a place in the Top 6. “Castleford only had 40% possession for the first sixty minutes”underlined the Tigers coach, Ryan Carr, former Pia player.Deprived of the ball from the first moments and shaken by the Catalan physical impact, symbolized in particular by a big tackle by Romain Navarrete on Joe Stimson (12th), the English suffered for a long time. Stifled by the pace imposed by John Cartwright’s men and by the 31 degrees of a suffocating late afternoon, it took them many minutes to find their bearings.The Dragons took the opportunity to strike twice. Tommy Makinson scored a double, his third of the season in the league after those scored against Warrington and Leigh, and his fourth in all competitions including the Cup round at Batley. An ideal start which rewarded the Catalan intensity.

But after the cool break, Castleford regained lucidity. As too often this season, the Dragons conceded a first try on their right side. Perfectly served by Phoenix Laulu-Togaga’e, Jason Qareqare put down the trio Cotric – Aispuro-Bichet – Sexton, remaining a spectator of the action. Ten minutes later, the left side also proved permeable when Jack Brown took advantage of a space left free by Zac Lipowicz.Despite these defensive imperfections, the blood and gold continued to showcase their offensive effectiveness. Toby Sexton perfectly found Franck Maria for a try in the 26th minute, before Lewis Dodd placed a precise kick for Solomona Fa’ataape (37th). At the break, the Catalans led 22-12, a comfortable advantage but far from being definitive.

Three tries conceded during the last quarter of an hour

Returning from the locker room, Guillermo Aispuro-Bichet first put out an early fire on his wing before Kuirse Leeming pushed his opponents into a mistake. Castleford had two clear chances, but the Catalan defense was more rigorous.With the ball, however, the Dragons continued to enjoy. On a brilliant inspiration from Tommy Makinson, author of an inside ball, Toby Sexton went to score his sixth try of the season to bring the score to 28-12. Shortly after the hour mark, the same duo did it again, same movement, same punishment for the Tigers.While the match seemed under control, the Catalans relaxed in the last quarter of an hour. Three attempts conceded tarnished a very successful performance for sixty minutes. A warning not to be ignored in the face of an opponent who is certainly valiant, but who is not among the main contenders for the Top 6. “I am very happy with this victory. It was sixty very good minutes, but we’re going to get back to work on Monday because we didn’t finish as we hoped.”a résumé John Cartwright.

The Dragons found their audience with the energy and ambition that one expects from a candidate for the final stages. Their offensive animation, their intensity and their ability to stifle Castleford for an hour are reasons for satisfaction. But the defensive generosity seen at the end of the match reminds us that nothing is yet completely under control. Before the reception of Bradford, the Catalans now know where to concentrate their efforts.