Scott Dureau stars as Catalans Dragons beat St Helens 26-16
Last Updated: 10/08/15 4:47pm
Scott Dureau turned in a superb man-of-the-match performance as Catalans Dragons overcame Ben Pomeroy's sending-off to defeat St Helens 26-16 in Perpignan.
Dureau, who is heading back to his native Australia at the end of the Super League campaign, kicked 12 points and created his team's opening score as the French side shocked the Saints to keep their slim chances of reaching the end-of-season semi-finals alive.
Pomeroy was dismissed for a shoulder charge to the head of St Helens' Josh Jones three minutes into the second half.
The Catalans opened the scoring in the 12th minute, when Dureau's neat kick to the in-goal area was touched down by Tony Gigot before Dureau converted.
He added a penalty goal on 20 minutes to take the score to 8-0.
St Helens captain Luke Walsh scored the visitors' first try after good work by Adam Swift down the left, before the skipper added the extras to narrow the deficit to 8-6.
The home team extended their lead on the half-hour mark, however, with Louis Anderson charging on to Ian Henderson's short ball to score before Dureau again converted to restore the Catalans' eight-point cushion.
Good work by Adam Quinlan created Saints' second try five minutes before half-time as Matty Dawson dotted down in the right corner, but this time Walsh could not add the conversion.
There was time before the interval for Morgan Escare to extend the Catalans' lead, racing over from 60m out. Dureau converted to take the score to 20-10.
The Catalans' ambitions were hindered three minutes after the break as Pomeroy was sent off for a shoulder charge to the head, but the 12 men made light of their numerical disadvantage and went on to stretch their advantage through two penalty goals from Dureau.
Joe Greenwood scored close to the posts from Walsh's flat pass, however, and Walsh added the extras to take the score to 24-16.
Saints were then aggrieved to have a try ruled out by the video referee for obstruction as Greg Richards looked to have scored.
But, with Dureau off the field injured, Krisnan Inu added a last-minute penalty to seal a memorable win for the Catalans.
