Dragons riding high

Dragons move up to fourth after record third away victory.

Last updated: 4th April 2008

David Feriol Catalans Dragons v Harelquins May 07

Ferriol: Powerful try

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Catalans Dragons survived a thrilling ending from Huddersfield to beat the Giants 20-16 at the Galpharm Stadium for a record third away win of the season to lift them to the lofty heights of fifth in the table.

A slow-burner of a Super League encounter in Huddersfield had just a Jamahl Lolesi try and two Thomas Bosc kicks in the first half as the Giants led 6-4.

Ryan Hudson deservedly put the hosts further in front after the interval but the French side came storming back with David Ferriol, Bosc and Djamal Fakir all crossing the whitewash as the visitors then led 20-12.

Huddersfield's chance seemed to have gone but Darrell Griffin crossed with three minutes left, before Chris Thorman bizarrely drop-kicked the conversion - and although it went through the posts it was disallowed by the referee and no two points were added.

Still there was time for one last chance but a last-ditch tackle from Aaron Gorrell saw the Dragons hold on for a third away win of the season - already a record tally for the French side.

Good start

Mick Potter's men look to finally be getting to grips with playing away from home in the Super League, and they bossed the opening exchanges with Bosc kicking two penalties for an early 4-0 lead.

Huddersfield took 20 minutes to finally get into the game, when they benefited from several Catalans penalties to eventually cross the line in the corner, but referee Richard Silverwood ruled out the try for obstruction.

The Giants did get on the scoreboard on 38 minutes with a sweeping move from left to right, involving the supersub Hudson, leading to Lolesi going in at the corner.

The try ensured Huddersfield went in at the break ahead, and they increased their lead after a good start to the second half, and it was no surprise to see Hudson touching down.

After being held up short of the line, Hudson managed to roll forward without his ball-carrying arm touching down and he then forced the ball down for the try.

The Giants looked good, but the French side were not beaten just yet and they hit back with the powerful Ferriol storming over from close range off a short pass, and when Bosc racked up 300 points for the club with the conversion they were just 12-10 behind.

Bosc belter

The excellent Bosc then scored the try that really turned the tables on the Giants as he showed a superb dummy before slipping a tackle and sprinting over the line by the posts, and his own conversion made it 16-12 to the visitors.

Chris Thorman had a night to forget after several errors, and his most costly came on 64 minutes when he took too long on his kick enabling Fakir to charge down his effort and then power forward to pick up the loose ball and dive over the whitewash.

Huddersfield still tried to get a reply in but a handling error from Thorman scuppered one promising move deep inside Catalans territory.

Griffin then gave the home crowd hope when he got over the line with three minutes left to play - before the bizarre incident with Thorman.

Unaware that a drop-kick can only be used on a penalty, Thorman tried it with the conversion but referee Silverwood ruled out the two points.

Thorman nearly made up for his errors when he powered through and sent Luke Robinson scampering towards the try-line, only for Gorrell to collar him with a superb try-saving tackle.

When referee Silverwood adjudged the following Robinson fumble to be a knock-on, then the game was won for the Catalans, who achieved a best-ever third away win of the season with still two-thirds of the campaign remaining.