Dragons survive Cats comeback

Catalans Dragons progressed in the Super League play-offs and also ended Wakefield's season as they survived a gusty Wildcats fightback to win out 25-16 at Belle Vue.

The French side looked home and dry at half time as tries from Vincent Duport, Olivier Elima and Dimitri Pelo put them 16-2 in front and well on top.

Pelo's second made that lead 22-2 and there looked no way back for Wakefield, but the home crowd were stirred when Luke George crossed twice, either side of a Ryan Atkins try, and all of a sudden they were within a converted try of the visitors.

The fightback had the Dragons rattled, but they just about held on, with a late drop-goal and penalty from Thomas Bosc sealing their place in the next round - and they move on to an away tie at Huddersfield in another sudden-death encounter.

The Dragons crossed the line in the tenth minute through Duport, but after the try was reviewed video official Steve Ganson spotted an obstruction in the build-up and chalked off the score.

Nerves

Both sides looked nervous with their seasons on the line, and Wakefield took the lead when they quickly accepted the chance to kick a penalty through Sam Obst on 20 minutes.

The Wildcats had just played four consecutive sets on attack but, despite the Dragons' defence creaking, the nerves caused them to try and settle down by taking just the two points.

Just before the half hour the visitors came alive and Duport did get his try this time, when he went over in the right corner in a near carbon copy of his early disallowed effort.

Adam Mogg then pierced the home defence with a dummy and wonderful run to send former Wildcat forward Elima in under the posts, with Bosc's kick making it 10-2.

A third try in just seven minutes came straight from the kick-off when Wakefield were once more found wanting out wide and Pelo raced in at the left corner, and suddenly the lead was 16-2.

Pelo double

Wakefield needed a fast start to the second half, but Catalans scored first as Pelo backed himself from dummy half and he spun and battled his way over the line from close range.

Despite it being 22-2, the Wildcats were not done and when George raced away down the left touchline to score Belle Vue suddenly found its voice.

The comeback was definitely on as the clocked ticked onto the hour mark - Scott Grix's clever kick from deep found a marauding George, who quickly fed Atkins and he raced 40 metres to score - but Drew's missed conversion kept the gap at 12 points.

Some concerted Wakfield pressure had the Catalans defence wobbling, and it finally broke down when George slid in again with seven minutes remaining to set up a real grandstand finish - especially when Drew nailed a superb conversion from out wide for 22-16.

The Dragons were rocking, and so much so they fluffed the chance of a drop-goal on their next possession, but on 77 minutes Bosc did get the ball and he slotted the one-pointer that sealed the win.

Bosc kicked a late penalty on the hooter as Wakefield's revival bid just came up short in the end, and the Dragons progress in a deserved but in the end nervous victory.