Saints humbled in France
Super League leaders St Helens suffered a 21-0 defeat against Catalans Dragons at the Stade Gilbert Brutus.
By Graeme Mair
Last Updated: 11/08/07 11:40pm
Catalans Dragons claimed a 21-0 victory against Super League leaders St Helens at Stade Gilbert Brutus on Saturday evening.
The Dragons scored four tries through Younes Khattabi, Justin Murphy, Jason Croker and Clint Greenshields, and produced a magnificent defensive effort to keep Saints out at the other end.
Points were hard to come by during the first-half, the deadlock was not broken until the 35th minute when Khattabi collected Stacey Jones' grubber kick and touched down in the left-hand corner.
Kiwi stand-off Jones missed the conversion meaning the Dragons led 4-0 after a hard-fought first-half.
Two-try burst
But after the break the Dragons crossed twice in 10 minutes through Murphy (47) and Croker (58), Jones converting the second of those tries for a 14-0 lead.
Saints enjoyed plenty of possession as they strived to get back in the game, but the final pass would not go to hand against a committed defensive effort from the hosts.
The result was sealed by Greenshields' try seven minutes from time, Jones adding the conversion and a drop-goal in the 75th minute to extend the Dragons' margin of victory to 21-0.
St Helens remain top of the Super League on points difference from Leeds Rhinos, while the Dragons move above Hull KR into 10th.
It will also be a confidence booster for the French side ahead of the Challenge Cup final against St Helens at Wembley Stadium on August 25.
Catalans Dragons (4) 14
Tries: Khattabi, Murphy, Croker. Goals: Jones
St Helens (0) 0
Att: 8,655
