MAC CAN BE TOP CAT AGAIN

Dragons are closing in on first Wembley date for 11 years

double-header at Bolton’s Macron Stadium after an unspectacular win. They were led from the front by skipper Remi Casty, hooker Michael Mcilorum put in a tireless performance and Kenny Edwards had an encouraging debut.

But there was little else to admire in an often uninspiring clash. Catalans led 4-0 at the end of an insipid, try-less first half.

The main talking point surrounded three visiting players staying down to receive treatment after alleged “crusher” tackles. Two resulted in penalties, and the other saw Danny Brough in the sin-bin.

Leeds coach Brian Mcdermott had criticised a similar incident with Greg Bird on Saturday night and all three drew boos from the crowd.

Huddersfield’s points came from two Drinkwater penalties at either end of the half. The try drought was broken soon after the restart. Giants skipper Leroy Cudjoe (left) – playing in his first match for nine months following a knee injury – slid to the line at the second attempt. There was doubt over both that try and one that followed three minutes later when David Mead touched down a Tony Gigot kick.

That, briefly, was the only point that Huddersfield held the lead and the game slowly got away from them in the next 20 minutes.

Drinkwater kicked two more penalties before Bird plunged over to make it 6-20.

Brough thought he had made amends for his yellow card when he stepped over with 10 minutes left, only for the latest obstruction call from video ref to rule it out.

Catalans finished with 12 men when Benjamin Garcia was sinbinned for a cannonball tackle at the knees.