Warrington defeat Catalans
8 Jun 2019
Hooker Daryl Clark helped Warrington Wolves to a 34-4 Betfred Super League victory over Catalans Dragons at the Halliwell Jones Stadium.
Clark scored a fine individual first-half try when he scooted clear and beat four men to score and then created another for Australian half-back Blake Austin - his 18th of the season - to turn the game Warrington's way.
Bryson Goodwin, Josh Charnley and Sitaleki Akauola claimed Warrington's other tries with Dec Patton landing seven goals from as many attempts.
However, it was the visitors who manged to break the deadlock on 17 minutes when Tony Gigot's long pass allowed Fouad Yaha to squeeze over in the left hand corner after confirmation from the video referee.
Catalans deserved their lead but the game changed as Warrington struck with two tries in the final nine minutes of the half.
Firstly there was Clark's try and then two minutes before half time Clark turned provider as his drop off pass to Austin saw the Australian blast through the Catalans cover.
Blake Austin with the try just before half-time...
That hand-off on Gigot 😳💪 #SLWarCat
Live on @SkySportsRL Arena pic.twitter.com/RGQBGzyaYV
— Betfred Super League (@SuperLeague) June 8, 2019
Warrington coach Steve Price said: "I was really pleased with the result. It was an important win because a top two finish is what we're striving for. But there's a lot of rugby to be played yet so we will keep grounded and working hard and keep chipping away. Catalan are a team who try and jump you early and I thought we accommodated that really well and to go in at 12-4 at half time I was really pleased with the process. We then went on to score some excellent tries in the second half."
Catalans coach Steve McNamara said: "It feels like we've been on a tour of Europe over the last three or four weeks and it will be good to get back to France and have some stability and refocus and get ready to go again. It is what it is, we got an away draw in the cup, we took a game to Barcelona and we've had Magic so we have had lots of things to contend with. The travelling does take it's toll."
