Catalans 27-6 Huddersfield: David Mead and Jodie Broughton stun Giants
Last Updated: 02/04/18 10:43pm
David Mead and Jodie Broughton scored two tries apiece as the Catalans Dragons kept under-fire coach Steve McNamara in his job for another week with a 27-6 Betfred Super League win over Huddersfield.
The Giants had gone 6-0 up through Aaron Murphy's converted early try and held a 6-4 lead at the break after Broughton had touched down. But the home team moved up a gear after the restart and further scores from Benjamin Jullien, Mead (two) and Broughton again sealed the rout, with the rest of the points coming from the boot of Tony Gigot.
McNamara, whose side had previously won only one game in 2018, had been given four games to save his job two weeks ago. The result moved the bottom-of-the-table Dragons level on points with promoted Hull KR.
Neither side created much in the opening quarter until a 19th-minute break from Ukuma Ta'ai split the Dragons' defence down the middle and, on the next play, a wide ball from Jordan Turner sent Murphy rampaging down the left.
He evaded the full-back to touch down 15 metres in from the left touchline, and Darnell McIntosh converted to give the visitors a 6-0 lead.
McIntosh lost control of the kick-off from the restart and Catalans sprung into attack. Michael McIlorum burst forward and a wild pass to the left missed Brayden Wiliame but bounced into the arms of Broughton, who raced over in the corner.
The try was awarded on the approval of the video referee, although Gigot missed the conversion.
Huddersfield thought they had extended their lead on the half-hour mark, Murphy stripping the ball from Fouad Yaha and touching down after Yaha had taken a chip to the corner, but the video referee ruled that the Catalans winger had taken the ball cleanly in the in-goal area.
The hosts attacked down the left from the second-half kick-off in a bid to overturn their 6-4 interval deficit. Gigot produced a pinpoint kick to the right corner and the ball was knocked back by Yaha into the arms of Jullien, who touched down.
After the video official was once again required to give the thumbs up, Gigot added the conversion to give the hosts a four-point advantage.
Catalans stretched their lead further in the 46th minute, Greg Bird breaking down the left before drawing the full-back and passing for the supporting Mead to race over and score. Gigot hit the post with the conversion attempt.
The hosts were by now dominant. A half break from Samisoni Langi, before an offload to the supporting Gigot, broke the Huddersfield line, before Gigot drew the covering full-back and offloaded to Mead for his second try. Gigot added the conversion to put the Dragons 20-6 up.
Broughton added his second try after a smart play from McIlorum, who dummied right then sent a wide left pass for Broughton to collect and touch down in the left corner. Gigot again hit the upright.
Gigot added a penalty following a ball steal on McIlorum to extend Catalans' lead six minutes from time before the home half-back added a drop-goal three minutes later to take the winning margin to 21 points.
