Magic Weekend: Catalan see off Broncos fightback

Catalan held off a brave second half fightback from London to secure a 42-18 win in the opening game of day two at the Magic Weekend.

The game looked on course for a rout to mirror that of Warrington against Widnes on Saturday, as the Dragons looked good value for a 24-0 half time lead.

But the Broncos, who fielded eight players who have come through the ranks in the capital, got themselves within one score before the Perpignan side were able to pull away in the final quarter.

Lopini Paea, Leon Pryce and Remi Casty helped the Dragons open up an 18-0 lead inside the first 20 minutes, and they added a fourth shortly before half time when Scott Dureau‘s smart kick over the top was collected by Steve Menzies and superbly passed inside for Pryce to go in for his second try.

However, Rob Powell rallied his troops at the break, and their positive start was rewarded when Antonio Kaufusi went over for their first try.

Ben Bolger then went over by the side of the posts, and when Chad Randall squeezed in from dummy half, it was game on.

With Catalan reduced to 12-men after Jason Baitieri was sin-binned for a late tackle on the kicker, London looked to turn the screw, but the next score came at the other end, as Casty burst through a gap on an angled run and proved too much for the Broncos defence to stop.

That broke the Broncos’ momentum, and when Steve Menzies went over on 68 minutes it was game over.

There was still time for the Dragons to finish with a flourish, Jamal Fakir eventually going over after several superb offloads for the pick of the game’s tries.