Dragons too hot for Rhinos

Menzies: influential display

Catalan Dragons got the better of Leeds for just the third time in their Super League history, running out 38-18 winners at Stade Gilbert Brutus.

Steve Menzies celebrated signing a new one-year contract by scoring one of the Dragons' seven tries as they cemented their position in the top eight.

In contrast, the Rhinos - who have now suffered three league defeats on the spin - are looking over their shoulders in the last play-off berth.

They were level at six apiece midway through the first half only to then concede 14 points in the space of eight minutes before the interval.

Coughed up

Both sides coughed up possession cheaply until Sebastien Raguin broke the deadlock, catching Scott Dureau's crossfield kick at the second attempt.

Menzies looked set to add a second when he burst through the first line of defence but, realising he didn't have the pace to escape full-back Brent Webb, his pass back inside ended up going straight to an opponent.

Leeds made the most of the let-off to find a reply at the other end of the field, Webb's fantastic cut-out pass putting winger Ryan Hall in at the left corner.

A penalty conceded by Jamie Jones-Buchanan allowed Dureau to boot the hosts back in front before two further tries saw them open up a sizeable cushion by the break.

Wingers Frederic Vaccari and Damien Blanch both touched down, although the latter's effort should not have been awarded by referee James Child

The former Wakefield Wildcat was illegally-assisted by team-mates Ian Henderson, who barged Brett Delaney straight off the ball, and Raguin to force his way over for a try that should really have been .

Any hopes of a comeback from the visitors seemed to disappear when the influential Menzies walked in for a soft try not long after the re-start.

Desperate

A Dureau penalty put the Dragons four scores clear and, with the situation getting more and more desperate, Delaney's late shot on the French side's half-back seemed to suggest the Rhinos were losing their cool in Perpignan.

Referee Child produced a yellow card but the incident suddenly lit a fire under Leeds who, after initially looking like their frustration might get the better of them, finally crossed again through the ever-willing Jones-Buchanan.

Delaney then came out of the sin-bin to set up Danny Buderus with a neat offload and, with Sinfield converting both, Leeds suddenly felt they were back in with a shout.

Their hopes, however, were extinguished when Daryl Millard knocked back another well-placed high kick from Dureau to give Clint Greenshields the chance to fall over the line for a try that made certain of the two points.

Vincent Duport - playing his first game since last autumn - and Vaccari rubbed yet more salt into the deepening wounds of the Rhinos, who look certain now to finish outside the top four for just the third time since 1996.