By JOHN DAVIDSON
CATALANS have shocked Leeds – and the Rhinos’ hopes of a second-place finish – with a tough 16-8 win at AMT Headingley Stadium.
Leeds needed a victory to draw level Wigan on the Super League table.
But Catalans were determined and direct, with a try in each half to secure a surprise result.
“It’s frustrating,” Leeds boss Brad Arthur admitted.
“We’ve seen a couple of those performances this year, our losses look the same. Felt like tonight a few guys tried a bit too hard. We got a lot of moments wrong, a lot of big players wrong.
“I’m disappointed because I don’t know where its come from. When you get frustrated like that we’ve got to learn to relax, to be more patient.”
The Dragons went into half-time with an 8-0 lead after Ugo Tison scored for the French side, and Guillermo Aispuro-Bichet knocked over two goals.
The Rhinos were poor on their home turf, dropping passes and failing to dent the committed Catalans defence.
Chris Hankinson went close in the 50th minute, but determined tackling brought him down inches from the try-line.
Then the Dragons extended their lead two minutes later when Aispuro-Bichet nailed another penalty goal.
In the 57th minute Romain Navarrete was sin-binned after a series of penalties and infringements against the visitors.
Leeds finally got on the scoreboard on 64 minutes, thanks to Ryan Hall.
Hall grounded a Brodie Croft kick to the right wing, but Lachlan Miller couldn’t convert the try, leaving it at 10-4 with time ticking away.
But it was not enough as with seven minutes left Catalans grabbed a stunning score from Julian Bousquet.
Luke Keary’s field goal attempt rebounded off an upright and then the Australian smashed Miller when he caught it, the fullback coughing it up for Bousquet to swoop and touch down.
Aispuro-Bichet added the extras to make it 16-4, sealing the win for the Dragons at Headingley.
There was a late twist of the tale when Brodie Croft crossed with three minutes left, but it was slim consolation for Leeds.
Catalans coach Joel Tomkins hailed the effort of his players.
Tomkins said: “I know its been in us. Tonight was a special effort. It’s one of the bravest performances I’ve been involved in for sure.
“It was fight or flight and tonight we decided to fight. It’s rare this season where we’ve been in front.
“So to be in front it gave us confidence, especially in the conditions. I am wondering where it’s been in some games, but tonight I thought we deserved it. It gives us encouragement that we’re doing the right thing.”
CATALANS 16 (Tison Bousquet tries Aspiro-Bichet 4 goals) beat LEEDS 8 (Hall Croft tries) at Headingley.
Teams:
LEEDS: Lachie Miller; Ryan Hall, Harry Newman, Max Simpson, Chris Hankinson; Brodie Croft, Jack Sinfield; Mikolaj Oledzki, Jarod O’Connor, Cooper Jenkins, Morgan Gannon, James McDonnell, Keenan Palasia. Res: Kallum Watkins, James Bentley, Sam Lisone, Tom Holroyd. 18th man: Andy Ackers.
CATALANS: Guillermo Aspiro-Bichet; Tommy Makinson, Nick Cotric, Reimis Smith, Fouad Yaha; Luke Keary, Theo Fages; Jordan Dezaria, Ugo Tison, Romain Navarette, Tariq Sims, Bayley Sironen, Ben Garcia. Res: Julian Bousquet, Chris Satae, Paul Seguier, Tanguy Zenon. 18th man: Cesar Rouge.
Referee: Jack Smith