Dragons see off battling Quins

Catalans Dragons kept their play-off hopes alive with a 38-16 win over a hard-working Harlequins side at Stade Gilbert Brutus.

Catalans went in at half-time with a deserved 8-0 lead as the visitors failed to match their strong defensive work with any real attacking threat.

And Thomas Bosc scored a sensational try as well as booting five goals in the second half to condemn Quins to a fifth successive defeat.

From the off, Quins - and makeshift full-back Will Sharp in particular - were forced to put in constant work in the scorching conditions to keep the hosts at bay.

Breakthrough

On 14 minutes, the Dragons broke that resistance when the video referee ruled that Olivier Elima's momentum had carried him over despite the best efforts of Sharp to bring him down.

But Bosc struck the post as he went for the conversion and, for a long time, Catalans were restricted to a 4-0 lead in spite of their attacking dominance.

The hosts looked to be growing frustrated as they failed to extend their advantage but, as the half wore on, they increasingly looked like making the pressure count.

They eventually added a second four-pointer on 37 minutes when the Dragons spread the ball out wide and, thanks to a fine offload from Greg Bird, Dmitri Pelo was able to cross in the corner. Again, though, Bosc was unable to add the extras.

Quins were presented with something of a lifeline on the stroke of half-time when the Dragons were punished for a high tackle, but Chris Melling sliced it wide to leave his side trailing by eight points at the break.

Catalans delivered a major psychological blow just moments into the second half when Jean-Philippe Baile used his strength to break free and release Bosc, who found Pelo for his 11th try of the season.

Bosc then successfully converted for the first time in the game to put his side 14-0 ahead.

Yet the visitors were given hope on 48 minutes when Ryan Esders scored his first Super League try, picking up the ball in an advanced position after it came off Steven Bell as he jumped with Jamie O'Callaghan following a high kick.

However, that hope was swiftly dented as Bosc scored a sublime try. Collecting a pass in the middle of the park, he twice kicked forward and regathered before touching down between the posts. He then added the extras to put the Dragons 20-4 up.

Quins hit back soon afterwards, though, with Luke Gale capitalising on a loose ball to race away for a try before converting himself.

Advantage restored

The visitors went in search of something to get themselves back into the game, but Baile crossed the whitewash after a quick break on 63 minutes before Bosc converted to restore their 16-point advantage.

Bell then extended that lead as he crossed in the corner with nine minutes to play and Bosc, continuing his fine form in the second half, added the extras.

Quins remained determined until the last, and Gareth Haggerty grabbed a consolation in the dying minutes as he was able to force the ball onto the line.

Yet Catalans were to have the final word after an intelligent pass from Bosc allowed Casey McGuire to score before France international Bosc rounded off his impressive second-half showing with a conversion.