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Page last updated at 15:49 GMT, Friday, 22 April 2011 16:49 UK

Harlequins 30-37 Catalan Dragons

Harlequins (6) 30
Tries: O'Callaghan, Gale, Ellis, Pryce, Randall
Goals:
Gale 5
Catalan Dragons (22) 37
Tries: Dureau 2, Pelissier, Baitieri, Stacul 2
Drop-goals:
Dureau
Goals:
Dureau 5, Mounis


Scott Dureau
Dureau joined Catalan from Newcastle Knights this season

Harlequins suffered their fifth defeat in six games as Scott Dureau's 19 points inspired Catalan Dragons to their fourth Super League win in a row.

Dureau (2), Eloi Pelissier and Jason Baitieri put Dragons 22-6 up at the break with Jamie O'Callaghan scoring Quins' only try of the first half.

Luke Gale and Cyril Stacul traded tries before Andy Ellis, Karl Pryce and Chad Randall all scored to put Quins ahead.

But a Gregory Mounis penalty, Dureau drop-goal and Stacul try won it.

Dureau raced clear to give the visitors the lead before the first of his five conversions.

Quins soon got back on level terms when Andy Ellis' miss pass found Jamie O'Callaghan, who then darted over in the corner before Luke Gale added the extras.

But, just as the hosts thought they would score again, Dureau snatched a loose pass and ran the length of the field to put Catalan back in front.

Dragons added a further score when Ben Farrar cut through some poor Quins defending before offloading to Pelissier, who crashed over under the sticks.

Things got worse for the Londoners as a turnover allowed Baitieri to stroll through before Dureau's kick made it 22-6 at the break.

Harlequins were the first to score after half-time as Tony Clubb cut through the Dragons defence to hand Gale a clear run to the line before he added the extras with the boot.

But again, as the hosts looked to be in the ascendance, poor defending allowed Catalan to capitalise as Steve Menzies waltzed through before offloading to Stacul to give the visitors a 28-12 lead.

Quins were far from finished though and two tries in the space of four minutes brought the game back to life.

Ellis pulled a try back by burrowing over before Pryce rode four tackles as he powered his way to the line.

The Londoners were handed further incentive for their fightback when Dureau was sin-binned and they soon made the one-man advantage count when Randall burst home and Gale's fifth conversion put Quins in front for the first time.

But once again they failed to secure a win for the sixth consecutive game as Mounis levelled with a penalty before Dureau's drop-goal nudged the French side back ahead, and Stacul's late try sealed it.


Harlequins coach Rob Powell:
"It is hard when we keep coming in at half-time so far behind.

"We have got to learn to defend better early on in games. I am proud of the way we keep fighting and getting back into matches, but we really have to stop conceding so many points.

"We lack control at crucial times in games and it is really costing us. We were a little bit scratchy when we got near their line and we have to work on that.

"But we really dug in and there is stuff for us to be positive about."

Catalan Dragons coach Trent Robinson:
"I still think we are a team in construction. There is no doubt this is the strongest group we have had for a couple of years, but we are still building.

"We are trying to build that French identity and when we do I think we will get even better.

"I thought it was an awkward game today and both sides looked as though they could score points quite easily.

"But to be able to win a game ugly says a lot about your group of players and we certainly have that momentum."


Harlequins: Dorn; Melling, Howell, Clubb, O'Callaghan; Gale, Randall; Ambler, Ellis, Ward, Burnett, Bailey, Wilkes.

Replacements: Koupartisas, Bryan, Williams, Pryce.

Catalan Dragons: Stacul; Blanch, Baile, Sa, Vaccari; Farrar, Dureau; Ferriol, Henderson, Casty, Raguin, Menzies, Mounis.

Replacements: Martins, Simon, Baitieri, Pelissier.

Attendance: 2,069.

Referee: Ben Thaler (Wakefield).



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see also
Catalan Dragons 28-10 Hull FC
16 Apr 11 |  Rugby League
Harlequins 26-26 Castleford
15 Apr 11 |  Rugby League
Catalan 4-11 Harlequins
12 Feb 11 |  My Club


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