Battling Catalans End Leeds' Five-match Winning Run

Betfred Super League

Leeds (0) 8

Tries: Hall, Croft

Catalans (8) 16

Tries: Tison, Bousquet Goals: Aispuro-Bichet 4

Leeds Rhinos were denied a sixth successive Super League triumph by Catalans Dragons successful their penultimate crippled of nan regular season.

Already guaranteed a play-off place, Leeds had not conceded immoderate points successful their erstwhile 2 fixtures but trailed 8-0 astatine nan interval.

Dragons hooker Ugo Tison evaded a tackler to people nan opening effort from adjacent range, pinch Guillermo Aispuro-Bichet converting and past adding penalties either broadside of half-time.

Reduced to 12 men for 10 minutes erstwhile prop Romain Navarrete was yellow-carded for a precocious tackle, Catalans' defiant defence was yet breached erstwhile Ryan Hall gathered Brodie Croft's lofted footwear to touch down successful nan corner.

Morgan Gannon came adjacent to a 2nd Leeds people but his darting tally was halted conscionable nether nan posts by Catalans' England world winger Tommy Makinson.

Shortly afterwards, nan visitors reacted quickest to Luke Keary's drop-goal effort coming backmost disconnected nan upright and Julian Bousquet touched down for nan decisive try.

Croft's precocious effort could person group up a frantic finale, but Lachie Miller's nonaccomplishment to adhd nan other 2 points ended Leeds' hopes.

Leeds would person moved level connected points pinch second-placed Wigan, nan squad they look successful their last regular play fixture connected 19 September, if they had beaten Catalans.

But Leeds' conclusion intends nan Warriors will wrap up a top-two decorativeness - earning them a week's break and a location semi-final - if they triumph 1 of their 2 remaining fixtures.

The Rhinos will beryllium definite to decorativeness successful nan apical 4 if fifth-placed St Helens neglect to hit fourth-placed Leigh connected Friday, pinch specified an result securing a location necktie for Brad Arthur's squad successful nan first week of nan play-offs astatine nan very least.

Catalans' top-six hopes were already complete but they are ending nan run connected a affirmative note, pinch this their 3rd triumph successful 4 Super League outings.

Leeds: Miller; Hall, Newman, Simpson, Hankinson; Croft, Sinfield; Oledzki, O'Connor, Jenkins, Gannon, McDonnell, Palasia.

Interchanges: Watkins, Bentley, Lisone, Holroyd.

Catalans: Aispuro-Bichet; Makinson, Cotric, Smith, Yaha; Keary, Fages; Dezaria, Tison, Navarrete, Sims, Sironen, Garcia.

Interchanges: Bousquet, Satae, Seguier, Zenon.

Referee: Jack Smith.