Celtic Crusaders (6) 18
Tries: Hannay, Chan, J James Goals: Hannay 3

Catalans Dragons (22) 30
Tries: Bird, Elima, Mogg, Perry, Bell, Stacul Goals: Bosc 3

David Tangata-Toa hands off Julien Touxagas at the Brewery Field

Catalans Dragons survived a Crusaders fightback in the first Super League game not to feature an English side.

The home side were boosted by last week's first-ever win in the league and Josh Hannay gave them an early lead.

But Greg Bird quickly replied and tries from Olivier Elima, Adam Mogg and Shane Perry made the score 22-6 at the break.

Jason Chan and Jordan James got the Crusaders back, but Mark Bryant knocked on as he crossed, tries from Steve Bell and Cyril Stacul settling the match.

That ended a three-game losing run for the Dragons, but the Catalans suffered an injury blow when Julien Touxagas was stretchered off with a back injury.

Celtic Crusaders coach John Dixon:
"The players thought, at half-time, that they hadn't given a good account of themselves.

"They probably left themselves a mountain which was too high to climb and, in the end, we saw Mark Bryant going over [when they were 22-18 behind] and that would have put us two points in front but the ball popped out.

"That would have been a really good springboard for something, but 16 points behind at half-time was too big a hurdle.

"You have always got to acknowledge the quality of the opposition, but sometimes you have to look hard at yourselves and ask 'could you have done better?'

"Collectively, we knew we should have done better in that first half.

"We were pretty good getting out of trouble and getting to the halfway line but we were not really patient enough or good enough.

"We scored a nice early try and thought we could get a result but we didn't attack their line in the first half."

Catalans Dragons coach Kevin Walters:
"It was a scrappy game and not the best of matches this year but I'm just happy we won.

"We have been struggling for wins this year as have Celtic and that was always the way it was going to be. Fortunately for us, we finished in front."

Celtic Crusaders: Quinn, Dyer, Hannay, Dalle Cort, Blackwood, Smith, Van Dijk, O'Hara, Withers, Bryant, J. James, Beasley, Chan.
Replacements: Tangata-Toa for O'Hara (18), Budworth for Withers (54), Flower for J. James (15), Mapp for Beasley (20).

Catalans Dragons: Greenshields, Stacul, Baile, Mogg, Bell, Bird, Bosc, Carlaw, Bentley, Guisset, Elima, Gossard, Mounis.
Replacements: Casty for Bird (25), Perry for Bentley (25), Touxagas for Elima (31), Ferriol for Mounis (17).

Att: 2,927

Ref: R Silverwood (Dewsbury).

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