Tom Johnstone scored a hat-trick of tries for the Catalans Dragons in their hard-fought 26-12 win over Hull KR in Perpignan; captain Tom Davies and Julian Bousquet crossed to score more tries for the hosts
By PA Sport
Catalans Dragons captain Tom Davies scored a try as his team eliminated Hull KR to maintain their unbeaten start to the Super League season.
Tom Johnstone scored a hat-trick of tries as the Catalans Dragons kept up their winning start to the season with a hard-fought 26-12 win over Hull KR in Perpignan.
The Dragons maintain their position just behind leaders Warrington on points difference after making it five wins from five, with Tom Davies and Julian Bousquet also crossing for tries.
Rowan Milnes and Ryan Hall scored second-half tries for the visitors, both converted by Mikey Lewis, but the Catalans ran out late winners.
Johnstone got the Dragons off to a good start with a third-minute try following a 60-metre break across the Rovers line by Adam Keighran that the former Wakefield winger finished behind the posts.
Then Rovers fullback Lachlan Coote unleashed a shot into in-goal and Davies pounced to put the Catalans up 10-0 on 18 minutes.
The Robins had long periods of possession in the first half and twice came close to scoring, but were unable to pick up any points before the interval and lost Lewis to a head injury, from which he later returned.
Rovers tried to take advantage of the cold and wet conditions at the Stade Gilbert Brutus, but Johnstone punished a loose carry by Lewis by picking up the ball and running 70 meters to score his second try, this time between the posts, with Arthur Mourgue adding the conversion. .
The return of prop Mike McMeeken from the bench put more force into the Dragons’ attack and a powerful flurry sent his forward-leaning partner Bousquet over the line, with Mourgue’s conversion seemingly putting the game out of reach. the visitors.
But the Robins hit back when substitute Milnes backed up a break from Jez Litten and struck for a try from 20 yards, converted by Lewis.
Any hope of a comeback for Rovers was snuffed out when Johnstone claimed his hat-trick, latching on to a series of passes to finish in the left corner on 64 minutes to put the Catalans 26-6 ahead.
No one told veteran winger Hall that it was over, however, as he hit the buzzer with a late consolation attempt for Hull, but it was too late for the visitors.
Whats Next?
The next live action of the Super League on Sky Sports sees Huddersfield Giants host Saint Helena Thursday night; coverage starts at 7:30pm on Sky Sports Arena and kicks off at 8pm
KR helmet look to win again with a trip to Wakefield Trinity on Friday night starting at 8pm, while catalan dragons are next in action at Leeds Rhinos from 1pm on Saturday.
