Catalans 26-22 Leeds: Fouad Yaha scores four as Dragons beat Rhinos
Last Updated: 24/03/19 8:32am
Fouad Yaha scored four tries as Catalans Dragons moved up to fifth in Betfred Super League with a 26-22 victory over struggling Leeds in Perpignan on Saturday.
The winger raced over for the winning try with eight minutes remaining, meaning Ash Handley's treble proved in vain for the Rhinos, who remain bottom of the table.
Jack Walker's break three minutes into the game set up a good field position for the visitors. Former Catalans half-back Richie Myler sent a wide pass to Konrad Hurrell, who sent Handley over in the corner.
Catalans ramped up the pressure on the Leeds line, forcing two goal-line drop-outs before captain Remy Casty went close in the 13th minute on his 300th appearance.
Catalans then sent the ball to the right through Matty Smith and Tony Gigot, but the latter's wide pass was intercepted by Handley and the Leeds winger raced 90 metres to touch down under the posts.
Five minutes later and the Catalans were on the scoreboard, another penalty late in the tackle count allowing the Dragons to attack the Leeds line.
Tom Briscoe dropped a high kick to his wing before Sam Tomkins was held short of the line, with Yaha picking the ball up and burrowing his way over from a metre out to score down the left.
But Leeds extended their lead in the 23rd minute, after a Lucas Albert error close to his own line was punished.
Leeds sent the ball to the left through Liam Sutcliffe and Myler before Walker sent Hurrell over for a try down the left edge. Sutcliffe missed the conversion from out wide as the score remained 16-6.
New Catalans signing Sam Kasiano made his debut in the 28th minute and his impact was almost immediate.
He won the penalty to allow his side to attack the Leeds line and then picked up from acting half and sent the ball to the left for Yaha to touch down in the corner.
Leeds back-rower Brett Ferres was sent to the sin-bin six minutes before half-time for a tackle with the knees on Matt Whitley.
On the next play, Jason Baitieri was held short of the Leeds line and Albert picked up and darted over to touch down to the right over the posts, with Tomkins adding the conversion to make it 16-16.
Ferres returned shortly after the break and Leeds went over again. Attacking down the left, Myler's wide pass found Handley who fended away Lewis Tierney with ease to complete his hat-trick in the corner.
However, Catalans took the lead for the first time in the game on the hour mark. Tomkins and Brayden Williame combined down the left to send Yaha over in the corner for his third.
Tomkins converted from the touchline to take the score to 22-20, but was then penalised after being caught in the ruck 15 metres from the Catalans line and Sutcliffe added the penalty to level the game at 22-22.
Yaha scored his fourth in the 72nd minute, after Tomkins sent the winger over in the corner, to seal the win for the hosts.
