St Helens 12-14 Catalans Dragons: Highlights and talking points

Third place St Helens came up short against Catalans Dragons in an absorbing Grand Final between two teams who would make deserving Champions.

Highlights:

It became clear that this game would be one of the matches of the season early on when the first 10 minutes ticked by without an error. It was blow for blow but the Dragons had the better of the ruck and that translated to a two point lead via a Adam Keighran penalty.

The Dragons would then add to their lead when the Saints pressed and kicked crossfield with Keighran claiming the kick and setting Tom Johnstone away to run the length of the field to make it 8-0.

Then the controversial spell of the game as Saints received a number of penalties as they turned the screw against the Dragons and eventually Mark Percival was well placed to claim a lovely grubber kick to make it 8-6.

The Dragons could have re-established their lead with another try as they broke clear but Sam Tomkins was left frustrated when an offload was given as forward.

However, the Dragons would get themselves further ahead in the second half when a lovely set play put Matt Ikuvalu in at the corner as he saw off some cover defence to go in at the corner.

It would then be a case of scrambling defence from the Dragons as they tried to hold out. Will Hopoate went close but in the end it was Lewis Dodd who went over at the end of a lovely passing move to set up a grand stand finish.

In the end though Catalans clung on to a brilliant win.

Talking Points:

Challenge Cup blow
In a huge blow for St Helens’ Challenge Cup hopes, the Saints lost both James Roby and Mark Percival to head injuries which rules them out of next week.

Controversial calls
There were a number of big calls that went either way. In the end it would be a case of it evening itself out over the game.

Catalans the level of Saints
The two games between these two teams this year have shown that these two teams are of a similar level. They would make an apt Grand Final.