Catalans Dragons 26 Widnes Vikings 10

WIDNES wilted in the heat of Perpignan as they went down 26-10 to Catalans Dragons with winger Fouad Yaha crossing for a second half hat-trick for the home side.

Just a fortnight earlier, the Vikings had proven far too strong for the Frenchmen at the Select Security Stadium but they found Laurent Fraysinnous’ side a different proposition on their home turf.

Widnes may also be counting the cost in terms if injuries with several players leaving the field unable to return.

The Vikings thought they had opened the scoring when Corey Thompson plunged over from a high kick but the video referee overruled.

After a cagey opening quarter, the deadlock was finally broken when Catalans winger Jodie Broughton went the length of the field after scooping up a loose ball despite Joe Mellor’s best efforts in cover defence.

Catalans increased their lead to 10-0 when Thompson fumbled a Thomas Bosc chip on his own tryline and Justin Horo followed up to score the simplest of touchdowns to make it 10-0.

Aaron Heremaia went close for the Vikings but lost control of the ball as he plunged for the line.

With half-time imminent Widnes engineered a further chance but Patrick Ah Van didn’t have the pace to finish off and was bundled into touch.

The Vikings started the second half brightly and pulled six points back when Matt Whitley latched onto a pinpoint Kevin Brown kick with Lloyd White adding the extras.

However, Thompson knocked on from the restart and Yaha scored his first try from the resulting pressure.

It was a real body blow for Denis Betts’ men and on 58 minutes Yaha was in again as the Dragons outflanked the visitors defence.

With 12 minutes remaining, Yaha scored a near replica of his second try and with Thomas Bosc converting it was game over at 26-6.

The Vikings had lost Rhys Hanbury, Chris Dean and Stefan Marsh to injuries, but to their credit they scored a consolation try when Brown’s superb long pass sent Ah Van crashing over.

Catalans: Gigot; Broughton, Garcia, Duport, Yaha; Carney, Bosc; Taylor, Pelissier, Casty, Stewart, Horo, Baitieri. Subs: Bousquet, Mounis, Aiton, Anderson.

Widnes: Hanbury; Thompson, Marsh, Runciman, Ah Van; Mellor, Brown; Burke, White, Buchanan, Dean, Houston, Cahill. Subs: Heremaia, Cahill, Whitley, Manuokafoa.

Half-Time: 10-0

Referee: Mr R Hicks