Wigan come unstuck in France

Millard: brace of tries as Catalan completed Wigan double

Catalan Dragons completed a memorable double over Super League champions Wigan as Daryl Millard claimed a brace of tries in a 20-12 victory in France on Saturday.

The French outfit recorded a remarkable 47-28 triumph over the Warriors at the DW Stadium in April and, while not quite as convincing, followed it with another superb showing at the Stade Yves du Manoir in Montpellier - a venue hosting rugby league for the first time.

Jean Philippe-Baile put the hosts ahead early and, while in-form Sam Tomkins crossed twice in the first half for the Warriors, it would not prove enough as Millard scored two of his own, the second ten minutes from time to seal the success.

Catalan began brightly and only a last-gasp tackle from Paul Prescott prevented Ian Henderson from scoring within seconds of the start.

Shortly afterwards the visitors required some last-ditch defence from Pat Richards and George Carmont to hold up Baile over the line, but the big French centre went over from the restart after Scott Dureau found him on the right - Dureau added the conversion to give the Dragons a 6-0 lead.

Wigan responded and, following three consecutive penalties awarded by referee Richard Silverwood, penetrated the home defence when Tomkins sped under the posts in 21st minute.

Richards added a simple conversion to level the scores, but parity did not last long as Catalans restored their lead five minutes later.

High shot

A high tackle by Sean O'Loughlin gave the Dragons a penalty and Jamal Fakir took the ball up the middle before off-loading to Dureau who put Millard away to score down the right flank.

Wigan were back on terms again after 33 minutes as Clint Greenshields was punished for slack play. The full-back had expected the ball to roll dead from a Tomkins grubber and had not anticipated his opposite number following up his own kick quite so quickly.

That hesitation allowed Tomkins to nip in and touch down just before the whitewash, Richards again added the extra two points.

With half-time approaching, Dragons were awarded a penalty in front of the posts which Dureau converted to give the hosts their slender interval lead.

The second half was a much tighter affair and points-scoring chances were at a premium.

Wigan were clinging to the two-point deficit and looking to produce a late strike to pinch the points.

But it was Catalan who had the final say as Greenshields, atoning for his earlier error, played the decisive pass to Millard who went over for his second try of the night, converted by Dureau to wrap up victory.