Baile stars in Dragons win

Rovers crash in Perpignan

Last updated: 5th July 2009

Baile stars in Dragons win

Baile: hat-trick hero

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Jean-Philippe Baile's hat-trick helped Catalans Dragons to a 23-12 victory over Hull KR on Saturday evening.

Baile crossed in the ninth and 14th minutes as the hosts stormed into an early lead at Stade Gilbert Brutus.

Clint Greenshields' break created the opening score and Baile was soon in again when Chev Walker went walkabout to leave him free to ground Thomas Bosc's kick ahead.

Ben Cockayne took advantage of slick handling from Paul Cooke and Walker to get Rovers on the board with a try in the 24th minute, but Jason Croker added a third for the Dragons just before half-time to give them an 18-6 advantage at the break.

Hull KR coach Justin Morgan held his half-time team talk on the pitch similar to Hull City manager Phil Brown when his side were 4-0 down at Manchester City - it did not help City that day and it failed to work for Rovers.

Comeback

The visitors did, however, reduce their deficit to just six points when Michael Dobson converted Daniel Fitzhenry's 61st-minute try.

The score was only awarded after the video referee, who had earlier ruled out a Peter Fox effort, judged the hooker dropped the ball backwards before touching down.

But Thomas Bosc's 77th-minute drop-goal sealed the points for the Dragons and Baile squeezed over in the corner to completed for his third try in the penultimate minute.

The result moves Les Catalans up to ninth in the engage Super League table, while third-placed Hull KR now trail league leaders St Helens by seven points.