Bulls late show stuns Dragons

Bradford left it late to beat Catalans Dragons 20-18 in Perpignan and record just their second win of the season.

Paul Deacon held his nerve to convert Simon Finnigan's 79th-minute try that put the Bulls in front just before the final hooter.

It was a crucial score for the visitors, not only because it stopped them suffering a third straight loss but also because it will ease the pressure on coach Steve McNamara.

Defeat was tough on the Dragons after they had looked on course to pinch a late winner themselves when Thomas Bosc scored.

The stand-off added the conversion, his third of the night, to put the hosts 18-14 up before Finnigan popped up to deny them at the death.

Close encounter

There had been little to split the sides throughout the 80 minutes, with a Deacon penalty just after half-time proving to be the difference.

The scrum-half had already converted Glenn Morrison's early try after setting up the forward with a clever kick over the top.

With the ball bouncing kindly, the Australian finished in superb fashion, breaking through three Dragon tacklers to dive in under the posts.

Clint Greenshields was caught just short of the line as Les Catalans gradully grew into the game, although they bombed a great chance with a knock-on from the resulting play-the-ball.

The full-back was not to be stopped just before the half, though, rushing through to take Bosc's chip kick on the bounce before diving over the line.

A 6-6 scoreline at the break was a fair reflection of the contest and Bradford seemed to realise the need to put points on the board when they decided to let Deacon kick for the posts after a high tackle.

Try-saving tackle

Wayne Godwin seemed set to put them further clear until Justin Murphy somehow managed to get back and deny the hooker within centimetres of the line.

But, with the Dragons slow to filter back, Dimitri Pelo was caught offside, leaving Ashley Klein with little choice but to yellow card the winger for denying a try-scoring opportunity.

It did not take long for the visitors to make the most of the extra man, Shontayne Hape taking Deacon's flat pass and breaking through Greenshield's tackle to touch down on the left.

The Dragons did their best to battle back, forcing three successive sets of six close to their opponents' line.

Eventually they found a way through, a high bomb bouncing kindly into the path of prop Alex Chan, who looked both surprised and delighted when he was in the right place to drop on the loose ball over the line.

Bosc, who had put up the kick that led to the score, converted and then put the French side in front when he finished off a flowing move.

Yet there was to be a late twist in the tail for the Dragons, Finnigan's late, late effort denying them a first home win in 2008.