Greenshields and Blanch hat trick inspire Dragons
Clint Greenshields and Damien Blanch scores hat tricks as they inspired Catalan Dragons to a 46-26 win over Castleford Tigers.
Greensheilds was the star of the match as his support play was well rewarded with one try just before half time, and another two shortly after half time.
Blanch’s final try of the three was scored in the final minute, rounding off a predictable and comfortable win for the Dragons.
The Dragons never looked like losing this game, but did arguably ease off the pressure late in the second half when the game was effectively won.
Vincent Duport scored within the seventh minute for the Dragons collecting a simple offload from Setaimata Sa to help himself to an easy try on the French side’s right flank.
Castleford’s task was made even harder when after Duport’s try, Jamie Ellis was escorted from the field. He returned to the dug-out area with his arm in a sling and never returned to the field.
The Dragons extended their lead from a length of the field team try that was finished off by Blanch. Rangi Chase’s make-or-break pass to his winger was knocked backward by a Catalan defender, before Louis Anderson raced away. The ball went through several Catalan players hands before Blanch finished off the play with a try in the opposite corner.
Castleford replied with a try from Ryan Hudson, who raced to catch up to Rangi Chase’s grubber kick into the Dragon’s in-goal.
However Catalan quickly extended their lead with another try that was made to look easy. Dureau’s chip kick was caught by the unmarked Sa who touched down with no Tigers’ defenders in sight.
Stuart Jones’ try meant Castleford only trailed by six points again, before Dureau’s break was supported by Greenshields, who was able to finish off a intuitive move under the posts.
Catalan went into half time 30-12 ahead, as Blanch scored his second try after being spotting a huge gap in the Tigers’ defence.
Greenshields grabbed his second try of the afternoon shortly after half time before he scored his hat trick on the 55th minute.
Duport raced away after breaking the Tigers’ defence, before offloading inside to Greenshields in order to beat the Castleford fullback Richard Owen.
Nick Youngquest and Grant Millington both added tries to ease the pain of the Tigers’ loss in the final quarter of the match.
Owen scored a try on the right wing, which showed the Tigers’ character in a fight back that was predictably always going to come up short. But Catalan had the final say with Blanch’s interception try in the final minute.
Castleford scores: T- Hudson, Jones, Youngquest, Millington, Owen. G- Orr (3)
Catalan scores: T- Duport, Blanch (3), Sa, Greenshields (3). G- Dureau (7)
Castleford: Owen; Youngquest, Snitch, Jones, Thompson; Chase, Ellis; Massey, Orr, Huby; Millington, Hudson, Milner. Subs: Clark, Mitchell, Holmes, Nash.
Catalan: Greenshields; Blanch, Millard, Duport, Pala; Bosc, Dureau; Mounis, Henderson, Casty; Sa, Anderson, Baitieri. Subs: Pelissier, Fakir, Maria, Larroyer.
Referee: Tim Roby
Half time: 12-30
Attendance: 5,005
Wigan Warriors came from behind to beat Hull KR 42-36 and win the League Leaders Shield.
Josh Charnley’s try in the final minute not only won the game for Wigan, but ensured they were mathematically the league leaders with one game remaining in the regular season.
Hull KR went into a 26-0 lead with tries from Hall, Withers, Galea and Webster. Brett Finch and Darrell Goulding scored tries late in the half.
But Wigan dominated the second half with tries from Hock, two tries from Richards, Carmont and Farrell before Charnley scored his match winning try.
David Hodgson and Withers scored in the second half for what turned out to be little consolation.
Warrington shook off their post-Wembley hangover with a 54-6 win over Huddersfield.
Joel Monaghan scored a hat trick along with tries from Bridge, Ratchford, Myler, Hodgson, Williams, Atkins and Hill.
Scott Grix scored the Giants’ only try in the first half.