York run in five tries for dream win over Catalans

Image source, SWPixImage caption,

Liam Harris went 70 yards for the third York try

Published31 minutes ago

Betfred Super League

Catalans (16) 16

Tries: Darrelatour 3 Goals: Aispuro-Bichet 2

York (12) 28

Tries: Field, Noafoaluma, Harris, Galeano, Vaughan Goals: Hunter 4

York Knights enjoyed a dream night in the south of France as they ran in five tries to beat Catalans Dragons for the first time in Perpignan.

It looked ominous for the Knights when dashing young Dragons winger Leo Darrelatour crossed inside four minutes, then added a second try for a 10-0 lead on 18 minutes.

But Oli Field pulled one back with his fifth try of the season, improved by Cody Hunter.

And, when David Noafoaluma went in at the left corner, Hunter kicked the goal for a 10-12 lead.

Right on half-time, Darrelatour went almost the length of the field at the Stade Gilbert Brutus for his hat-trick, and Guillermo Aispuro-Bichet kicked his second goal for a 16-12 half-time lead.

Catalans' dashing winger Leo Darrelatour

Image source, SWPixImage caption,

Leo Darrelatour's three first-half tries in Perpignan came in the fourth, 18th and 40th minutes

But, incredibly, the Dragons then shut out Catalans for the entire second half to earned an eighth league win of the season.

York cheekily took the lead again for the second time on the night on 52 minutes when half-back Liam Harris went 70 yards, then went further ahead on 64 minutes when Scott Galeano went off the right step for his side's fourth try, again improved by Hunter.

And, although they were hampered by a late sin-binning for Jesse Dee, Knights sent their army of travelling fans into French rapture when Paul Vaughan's 79th-minute try completed the scoring.

It completed a first victory for York on their fifth visit to this stadium - their first in Super League - and lifts them up to 10th in the standings, just a place and four points below Catalans.