Catalans (12) 24
Tries: Guisset, Johnson, Touxagas, Bentley Goals: Bosc 3

Leeds (26) 34
Tries: Lauitiiti, Jones-Buchanan, Senior, McGuire 2, Delaney Goals: Sinfield 5

McGuire scored two tries in Leeds' first win in five matches

Catalans Dragons gave struggling champions Leeds Rhinos a scare with a second-half comeback which threatened to steal the game.

Only when Kevin Sinfield's superb pass put Danny McGuire clear four minutes from time could the Rhinos fans relax.

It was a first win in five matches for Brian McClennan's inconsistent Leeds, who remain outside the top eight.

The Rhinos had scored five tries before the break to establish a comfortable lead before the French side hit back.

The visitors appeared to be coasting after they established a 26-6 lead shortly before half-time.

They conceded an early try when former Warrington prop Jerome Guisset crashed over from close range, but Ali Lauitiiti, Jamie Jones-Buchanan, Keith Senior, McGuire and Brett Delaney scored in quick succession to apparently put the game well beyond the Dragons.

However, a try from loose forward Dallas Johnson gave the home team some momentum going into the break, and they were further boosted when Kylie Leuluai was sin-binned for a late tackle on Thomas Bosc.

From the following set play, Julien Touxagas scored in the corner, and when Sinfield erred by leaving a kick he hoped would roll over the dead ball line, Kane Bentley dived in to reduce the Rhinos' lead to just four points.

Only when Sinfield set McGuire free to out-pace Steven Bell were the Rhinos assured of their first victory since beating Harlequins on 5 March.

Leeds coach Brian McClennan:
"It was tough. In the second half they came at us hard, the crowd got behind them, and maybe we weren't too good in contact.

"I thought they really hit us hard, and we looked a little tired.

"But wWe got the job done and that was the main priority coming here, to get the two points. We also want to build our performances and I thought we did that.

"In the first half we attacked pretty well and set a foundation at the start, working their middle a bit and got some joy later on. There was a bit of a process involved, we stuck at it."

Catalans Dragons coach Kevin Walters:
"We fought back really well, which is pleasing. I'm very proud of the guys.

"Injuries have been a trouble spot, but we're working hard, and on the evidence of the second half there are some positive signs for us.

"We have players coming back, we have some quality in the group which we showed last year and will show again this year."

Catalans Dragons: Bell, Pelo, Carlaw, Touxagas, Vaccari, C McGuire, Bosc, Ferriol, K Bentley, Guisset, Fakir, Mounis, Johnson.
Replacements: Martins, Gigot, Stacul, A Bentley

Leeds Rhinos: Webb, Smith, Delaney, Senior, Hall, Sinfield, D McGuire, Leuluai, Diskin, Bailey, Jones-Buchanan, Lauitiiti, Ablett.
Replacements: Burrow, Kirke, Burgess, Ambler.

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