Brilliant Brayden is at the double

BRAYDEN WILIAME scored twice as Catalans Dragons maintained their impressive recent form with a hard-fought win at Wakefield.

First-half tries from Greg Bird (below), Benjamin Julien, David Mead and Wiliame helped the Dragons into a 22-12 half-time lead. Wakefield scored through Justin Horo (two) and Tom Johnstone but they could not deny Steve McNamara’s side a seventh win from their last nine Super League games as Wiliame completed his brace and Fouad Yaha also went over.

The result lifted Catalans level on points with Trinity, who led in the fifth minute when second-rower Horo grounded a short grubber.

Liam Finn converted to make it 6-0 but the Dragons steadied themselves and fashioned an impressive response. A period of pressure on Wakefield’s line saw Bird go close from Michael McIlorum’s short pass before Julien was then denied on the next tackle.

Yet Catalans would not be denied and Bird collected a Drinkwater pass to surge through from close range.

Drinkwater’s conversion levelled it up at 6-6 but Wakefield should have regained the advantage when Ben Jones-Bishop but opted to go for the line himself and was stopped a metre short.

Jones-Bishop grounded a kick from Horo in the corner but the fumbled in the act of scoring and no try was awarded.

Moments later, Catalans advanced upfield and second-rower Julien went over from close range before Drinkwater’s second goal made it 12-6.

The Dragons began to dominate and two minutes later a fine kick from stand-off Samisoni Langi found centre Mead in the right corner and he pounced to score.

In the 31st minute it got even better for McNamara as Wiliame collected the ball and showed his speed and strength to break clear for a superb individual try.

Drinkwater’s third goal made it 22-6 but Wakefield scored on the stroke of half-time when Johnstone caught Finn’s pass and raced down the flank to score. Finn converted to make it 22-12 at the break.

Horo grabbed his second try to cut the visitors’ lead further in the 52nd minute.

But Wiliame collected his second from a kick by Yaha, who touched down himself late on. Tony Gigot kicked a drop-goal while Drinkwater landed 10 points with the boot.