Warrington warm up for Wembley with win at Catalans

George Williams was among the tries as Warrington beat Catalans in Perpignan in Saturday’s Super League

Warrington warmed up for Wembley with a dazzling 16-8 win over Catalans Dragons in Perpignan which put them back joint-top of Super League.

The Challenge Cup finalists spent last week at a hotel at Canet Plage beach resort near Perpignan and the team bonding paid off for coach Sam Burgess as he prepares for next Saturday’s clash against Wigan.

Catalans lost prop Mike McMeeken before kick-off with a recurring hand injury and were already without Michael McIlorum, and second-choice hooker Alrix Da Costa failed a head injury assessment in the opening exchanges.

The Dragons were further depleted when winger Tom Davies was sin-binned for a professional foul and Josh Thewlis converted the resulting penalty to put Warrington ahead in the 19th minute.

Arthur Mourgue struck back with a penalty for the Dragons to level the scores and there were chances at both ends in a fierce battle which remained 2-2 until the interval.

The Wolves came out firing in the second half with full-back Matt Dufty weaving magic 10 metres from the line and finding a gap for stand-off George Williams to cross for the first try of the game, Thewlis adding the conversion to make it 8-2.

Arthur Romano went close for Catalans at the other end but video referee Jack Smith ruled he had been held up in a terrific three-man tackle over the line.

It was end-to-end stuff in the sunshine and Thewlis put the Wolves two points further ahead with a penalty in the 56th minute.

Les Dracs tried to hit back as captain Ben Garcia was held up under the posts and props Julian Bousquet and Chris Satae pounded the line but the Warrington defence held firm.

And the Wolves turned the tables with a dynamic short-range burst from winger Matty Ashton to score a crucial try in the 70th minute and make it 14-2, Thewlis unable to convert.

Tom Johnstone took the game close to the wire with a 30-metre strike in the right corner five minutes from time, Morgue’s touchline conversion making it a six-point game, but Thewlis had the final word with a late penalty.

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