Sam keeps Dragons on fright track
20
SAM TOMKINS helped the unbeaten Dragons survive a late scare for the second match running.
This fright wasn’t as bad as the drama inflicted on them by Hull KR last week, with that game going into golden-point extra-time.
But Steve Mcnamara’s men seem to have a real problem about going for the kill after taking a dominant lead.
Tomkins said: “We know we need to be more consistent for 80 minutes but sometimes you have to win ugly and that was it.
“It is obvious what we did wrong – as a spine we did not organise well enough and that played into Huddersfield’s hands. But we will learn a lot from that.
“It is important to get a good start in the season. Two wins is good but in both games we had a period where we were pretty scrappy.”
Tomkins was excellent again for the French side and helped them take a deserved 20-6 half-time lead.
But a mixture of their own errors, plus Huddersfield’s determination to clinch their first win, put everything in the balance in the second half.
A Sam Wood try cut the lead to 10 points and only a terrific try-saving tackle by Catalans winger Tom Davies prevented Wood from grabbing a second.
But Catalans, who blew a 24-point lead last week, dug in defensively and got a late helping hand when Giants forward Joe Greenwood was given his marching orders for a high tackle on Samisoni Langi.
Catalans coach Mcnamara said: “That was very pleasing. To find those two wins in different styles puts us in a good position. The players showed true grit.”
Huddersfield coach Ian Watson said: “It is about building a mentality into the players. They are not a millions miles away. It will click at some point.”
Tomkins set up an early try for Matt Whitley but Chris Mcqueen stormed over minutes later to haul the Giants level. The first half was repeatedly delayed because of facial injuries to three Catalans players, including Dean Whare getting a broken nose which he played on with.
But they took control with tries from Ben Garcia, and Mike Mcmeeken. Despite failing to score after the break, they saw out the win to become the fifth team with two victories from two.
Tries: Mcqueen, Wood. Goal: Wardle.
Tries: Whitley, Garcia, Mcmeeken. Goals: Maloney 3, Tomkins.