Mounis try seals glorious comeback for Catalans - Sport - Evening Standard
       

Mounis try seals glorious comeback for Catalans

Catalans captain Gregory Mounis' late try completed a stunning second-half comeback by the Dragons as Quins loose-forward Henry Paul had a day to forget with the boot.

The former England rugby union international missed four out of five conversions and gifted Dragons their first half try.

Away win: Dragons' Clint Greenshields in action at The Stoop

Despite that Quins were in control at the break with an 18-6 lead and despite Australian centre David Howell completing a hat-trick after the interval they still managed to shoot themselves in the foot.

Brian McDermott's men had a dream start with the returning Paul crossing after just seven minutes when he raced on to Danny Orr's perfectly-weighted grubber-kick before adding the extras.

The Catalans failed to keep a lid on their emotions in the opening quarter and that lead to the next Quins try after 17 minutes.

Aaron Gorrell was penalised for not releasing in the tackle and from the resulting penalty Scott Hill and Orr worked the ball left before sending in Howell.

Howell was at it again five minutes later when Hill and Orr combined to split the Dragons defence wide open and the centre did the rest.

Catalans got back into the match on the half hour after Paul scuffed a goalline drop-out 20 yards and from the resulting set of six Gorrell dummied his way over from a yard with Thomas Bosc converting.

But Quins regained control immediately within a minute with the try of the match - Mark McLinden, Hill and Rob Purdham all involved before Matthew Gafa finished off.

The Dragons made a storming start to the second period and reduced the deficit after 43 minutes when left-winger Dimitri Pelo out-jumped Rikki Sheriffe to get on the end of Bosc's bomb and go over in the corner with Bosc converting.

Catalans were level seven minutes later when McLinden knocked-on 10 yards from his own line and former Brisbane forward Dane Carlaw crashed over with Bosc converting again.

Quins regained the lead from their next set of six when Howell completed his hat-trick after Orr looped a pass to him and he went over despite the attention of three defenders.

Paul failed with his fourth conversion and the errors proved to be costly in the 66th minute when Bosc's grubber was touched down by Mounis and Bosc won the match with his fourth successful conversion.

Sheriffe almost nicked it at the death when he sliced through the Dragons defence but Dwayne Barker was held up over the line and the French side clung on for the win.

Comments

Don't Miss
Rock star: Erin Wasson

Rock star

Erin Wasson is the ultimate anti-supermodel
Maybe it’s because she’s a Londoner … Happy anniversary, Ma’am

Happy anniversary

The monarchy has become stronger and more respected in the past 60 years
Victoria Coren: My obsession with children, five proposals a week and why David and I are no power couple

Victoria Coren

David Mitchell and I are no power couple
The Royal Academy of Arts Summer Exhibition preview party

Summer party

Stars at the The Royal Academy of Arts
London gets ready for the Diamond Jubilee - in pictures

Diamond Jubilee

London gets ready - in pictures
The Glamour Awards - stars turn on the style

Glamour Awards

Stars turn on the style
Duchess of Cambridge is pretty in pink at her first Buckingham Palace garden party

Garden party

Duchess of Cambridge is pretty in pink
FIRST review of Ridley Scott's latest sci-fi blockbuster Prometheus

First review

Is Ridley Scott's Prometheus any good?
Fair-weather goths

Fair-weather goths

The sultry shades of summer darks are coming out of the shadows
Dog save the Queen: Corgis surge in popularity

Dog save the Queen

Corgis surge in popularity