Centre Reimis Smith scored both tries as Catalans Dragons got off the mark in Betfred Super League with a scrappy but precious 11-0 win over Leeds Rhinos in Perpignan this evening.
Remarkably, it was the third time in as many visits Leeds have failed to score at at Stade Gilbert Brutus, though they did have a touchdown disallowed just before the break.
Catalans led 1-0 at the interval thanks to Luke Keary’s smart drop goal and Smith pounced on Leeds errors – two of many – to grab the tries, the first of which Arthur Mourgue converted.
It might have been different had Leeds not missed a golden chance after just three minutes when Jake Connor knocked-on over the line from a kick by Brodie Croft. Leeds wasted their captain’s challenge by claiming the ball came off one of the full-back’s knees.
Catalans returned the favour inside the opening quarter after they’d knocked on a Connor’s clever short drop out, Rhinos’ third of the game. Leeds turned down a possible two points from a penalty when Catalans were down to 12 men, with Romain Navarrete in the sin-bin for a dangerous tackle on Andy Ackers, which referee Aaron Moore missed, but was picked up on the replay after the Rhinos man stayed down.
Connor followed him for a similar offence, on Benjamin Garcia, with three minutes remaining in the half, the Catalans man also making sure he stayed down long enough for the video official to take a look.
Navarrete returned soon afterwards, but the visitors were unlucky not to break the deadlock when second-rower James McDonnell’s kick hit a post and was touched down by Jarrod O’Connor in his 100th appearance for the club. Moore indicated a try, but video official Liam Rush ruled it out for offside.
That gave Catalans a penalty with 30 seconds of the half remaining and Keary was clever enough to make it count, landing a drop goal on the final play. Catalans went two scores clear just three minutes after the resumption.
In an error-strewn game, it was inevitable it came from a mistake. Riley Lumb made a try-saving tackle on Chris Satae and Ethan Clark-Wood forced the ball loose when Keary kicked to the other flank on the last. Harry Newman picked up to counter, lost the ball in contract and Smith rumbled over.
The game’s other try also came off a mistake, Leeds’ debutant winger Clark-Wood being unable to take a cross-kick, allowing Smith to touch down again. Agonisingly for Leeds, they seemed to have created space on the left, but Ash Handley could not take Jack Sinfield’s pass, setting up the field position for Smith to secure the points with nine minutes left. Tariq Sims had a late touchdown ruled out by the video official.
.@DragonsOfficiel are on the board for 2025 ✌️#SuperLeague pic.twitter.com/OwWSnpYoRV
— Betfred Super League (@SuperLeague) March 8, 2025
