Catalans 25-24 Hull FC: Late drop goal fires Dragons to rare victory
By Press Association
Last Updated: 29/04/18 1:28pm
Tony Gigot's close-range drop goal earned bottom side Catalans an impressive 25-24 Betfred Super League victory over Hull.
The sides traded penalties - and blows - inside the last 10 minutes, with both desperate to find the correct field position from which to tee up a drop goal.
Hull's Josh Bowden gave them the opportunity, knocking on in his own half, and Gigot did the rest as the Dragons clinched their third win of the campaign and Hull were defeated for the seventh time in eight visits to Perpignan.
Abdul took the ball to within five metres of the Catalans line before offloading to the supporting Scott Taylor, who touched down to the right of the posts despite the best efforts of four home defenders. Jake Connor added the simple conversion to give the visitors a 6-0 lead.
Catalans levelled in the 20th minute when a smart grubber from Michael McIlorum into the in-goal area was pounced on by Brayden Wiliame down the left edge. Josh Drinkwater, on his debut after signing this week, added the conversion to take the score to 6-6.
Hull responded immediately, the ball being sent to the left and Frenchman Miloudi spinning away from one Catalans defender before stepping inside two more and forcing the ball down to score a superb try. Connor added the conversion as Hull re-established their six-point advantage.
Connor extended Hull's lead four minutes before half-time with a penalty goal 20 metres from the Catalans line before the Dragons reduced the deficit at the break with the last kick of the half, Drinkwater kicking the penalty from 10 metres to reduce his side's interval arrears to 14-8.
Catalans started the second half on fire, a penalty giving them field position in the 42nd minute before Drinkwater dummied left and stepped right to fool the Hull defence and to touch down to the left of the posts. Drinkwater added the goal to level the scores at 14-14.
The home side scored back-to-back tries when, from the kick-off, a short side play saw Wiliame break down the left before drawing the cover defence and sending the ball on the inside for Gigot to race over to score to the left of the posts. Drinkwater added the conversion to put the Dragons 20-14 up.
Taylor scored a superb solo effort, racing clear from 40 metres out in the 51st minute, outrageously dummying his way past full-back Gigot to score under the posts. Connor added the conversion to tie the scores up at 20-20.
Connor edged Hull back in front with another penalty goal, but Drinkwater was on hand to level the scores once again with a 40-metre penalty after Josh Griffin had infringed in the ruck.
Both sides were reduced to 12 men temporarily in the 64th minute when Connor and McIlorum were sin-binned for fighting before Abdul left the field on a stretcher with an ankle injury.
Catalans took the lead in the 74th minute when Miloudi was penalised for a ball-steal on Sam Moa, Drinkwater adding the two points to give the hosts a 24-22 lead.
Connor levelled the game with a 78th-minute penalty before a knock-on by Bowden in the last minute gifted Catalans and Gigot field position to kick a drop-goal with 10 seconds remaining.
