Warrington held to draw at home by Catalans
Photo courtesy of Richard Long
Catalans moved up to sixth in the Super League table after drawing 22-22 at Warrington.
Warrington Wolves coach Steve Price made two changes to his side that lost at Wigan Warriors last week. Harvey Livett and Ben Pomeroy replaced Mitch Brown and Dom Crosby.
Steve McNamara named an unchanged Catalans Dragons outfit to the one that beat Wakefield Trinity last time out.
Catalans posted the first points as Benjamin Jullien raced onto a flat pass from Tony Gigot to score. Josh Drinkwater converted to give his side an early 6-0 lead.
It didn’t take long for Warrington to reply. Bryson Goodwin latched onto a grubber from Kevin Brown to score. Tyrone Roberts added the conversion to draw the score level.
Ben Westwood was caught interfering at the play-the-ball midway through the first and as a result, Catalans opted to take the two. Drinkwater added the penalty goal to edge his side into a 10-8 advantage.
The Wolves took the lead though in the 22ndminute. Stefan Ratchford found Josh Charnley who darted 30 metres to score.
Warrington were in again when Livett got on the end of a Ratchford kick. Roberts converted, Warrington 16-8 Catalans.
The Dragons pulled one back on the half hour mark. Micky McIlorum scooted from close range to crash over the line. Drinkwater’s conversion attempt was successful.
Roberts added a penalty goal for Warrington after Kenny Edwards committed a high tackle.
It was the French side who had the last say in the first half though. Tony Gigot cottoned onto a lovely grubber from Drinkwater to dive under the sticks. Drinkwater converted to put his side 20-18 ahead at the break.
Roberts added another penalty goal for Warrington at the start of the second half after Catalans were caught blocking Warrington runners.
In the 55thminute, the half-back put the home side in front thanks to a penalty goal after the Dragons were caught interfering in the ruck.
Lewis Tierney thought he had scored for the Dragons on the hour mark but it was turned away by the video referee due to the ball not being grounded.
The Dragons were dealt a blow in the 68thminute as Mika Simon was sent to the sin bin for kicking out at Charnley.
Drinkwater tied the score again with a penalty goal, 22-22 after 70 minutes.
Charnley went over for Warrington late on but it was chalked off by the video referee due to him knocking on when going over.
Catalans pair Drinkwater and Gigot had drop-goal attempts in the dying embers but they went wide, while Roberts came agonisingly close to snatching the win for Warrington but it wasn’t to be.
Warrington: Ratchford; Lineham, Goodwin, T King, Charnley; K Brown, Roberts; Hill, Clark, Cooper, Livett, Hughes, Westwood. Subs: Philbin, Pomeroy, Patton, Akauola.
Catalans: Gigot; Tierney, Mead, Wiliame, Yaha; Langi, Drinkwater; Casty, McIlorum, Simon, Jullien, Garcia, Bird. Subs: Bousquet, Moa, Edwards, Baitieri.
Starman: Stefan Ratchford put in a reliable display for Warrington and caused Catalans problems when he had the ball in hand.
Attendance: 8,807
