The door to the top six was ajar for Wakefield Trinity following
Hull FC’s defeat earlier in the afternoon and a win would lift them above the
Black & Whites and into a play-off place, but the Catalans Dragons knew
that a defeat might spell the end of their own challenge for the top six after
a disastrous season for the French side.
Wakefield favourites with a ten-point handicap on the coupon
despite the Dragons securing a golden point victory when the two sides met at
the end of April, a clear indication of the recent drop in form for the
Dragons.
It was an intriguing fixture, last weeks big Dragons win
over the Giants adding to the neutral’s confusion.
Inside two minutes a flowing move from Wakefield saw Max
Jowitt score the opening try as he supported a break from half way down the
right wing, taking the ball ten metres out and crossing near the sticks. Jowitt
added the conversion to his own try for 6-0.
Walmsley took a pass and crashed over his tackler, and the
line on fourteen to extend the Trinity lead, Jowitt was unable to add the extra
two but the Dragons were looking forlorn.
Two minutes later Sam Tomkins failed to diffuse a Mason Lino
bomb, Josh Rourke rising above the Dragons full back and stumbling over the
line to stretch and score. Jowitt was again off target with the conversion.
On twenty-one the Dragons struggled under the high kick
again, this time Lachlan Walmsley took the kick, passed, supported, and then
took the pass to dive in at the corner off a Corey Hall pass. Jowitt kicked the
extras from the touchline for a 20-0 lead, Trinity delivering a masterclass.
A disastrous handling mistake in the Dragons goal area, Clement
Martin failing to knock the ball dead, allowed Josh Griffin to pounce on the
loose ball and ground for the simplest of tries. Jowitt added the conversion
for 26-0, the points in the bag before the first half was finished.
Sam Tomkins was sin-binned two seconds from the interval for
a professional foul, tackling the man about to receive possession as Wakefield
again rampaged downfield. Jowitt kicked the resulting penalty from under the
sticks for 28-0 at the break, Trinity totally dominant.
Wakefield took ninety seconds of the second half to get their
next try with the ball moved to centre field from the left wing, Rourke going
over as the Dragons defence, down a man, struggled to cover. Jowitt kicked another
goal for 34-0.
The Dragons finally broke their suck when Tevita Pangai Jr
chased and caught a Luke Keary chip kick, avoiding the tacklers and stretching
over the line for a try. Tommy Makinson added the extras but it was a long way
from a fightback.
Normal Trinity service was resumed on the hour mark, neat
passing ripping apart the defensive line with Lino taking the last pass and
sprinting over under the sticks. Jowitt kicked his sixth goal of the evening as
Wakefield hit the forty mark.
Three minutes from time, a kick to the corner was knocked back by Nick Cotric but then collected by Tom Johnstone to ground. Jowitt couldn't add the extras from the touchline but it was a comprehensive win for the home side.
A great win for Wakefield lifts them into the top six and
pushed Hull FC out of the play-off places but the Dragons now need a miracle to
make the six as they are six points off the final slot with three other sides
ahead of them. This was way too easy for Wakefield who were in a different
class, the Dragons are going backwards at a rapid pace and in need of a
fundamental rebuild.
Wakefield Trinity: Rourke (2T), Walmsley (2T), Hall, Scott, Johnstone (T),
Jowitt (T, G 6/9), Lino (T), McMeeken, Smith, Hamlin-Uele, Griffin (T), Vagana,
Pitts. Subs: Hood, Doyle, Croft, Faatili. 18th Man: Nikotemo.
Catalans Dragons: Tomkins (SB on 40), Makinson (G 1/1), Martin,
Darrélatour, Cortic, Keary, Rougé, Navarrete, Da Costa, Maria, Sironen,
Séguier, Partington. Subs: Pangai Jr (T), Bousquet, Satae, Balmforth. 18th
Man: Aispuro-Bichet.
Half-Time: 28-0.
Full-Time: 44-6.
Score Progression: 4-0, 6-0, 10-0, 14-0, 18-0, 20-0, 24-0,
26-0, 28-0 : HT: 32-0, 34-0, 34-4, 34-6, 38-6, 40-6, 44-6 :FT.
Lead Exchanges: Wakefield.
Referee: Tom Grant.
