With a hat trick for Fouad Yaha, the Catalans won their first home game since October against Salford in style
Last updated: 04/17/21 9:55 PM
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Highlights of the Super League clash between the Catalans and Salford
Highlights from the Super League clash between Catalans and Salford
The Catalans fought for their third Betfred Super League win of the season with a 42-6 win over a sad-looking Salford in Perpignan.
Richard Marshall’s side looked tired and torn after a difficult start to their season and three straight league losses, albeit against strong sides, will worry the new Salford manager.
Salford was the first team to travel to France since the 2020 Covid-19 chaos. For the first time since last October he competed flatfoot against a strong Catalan team on their home turf at the Stade Gilbert Brutus.
The dragons were too fast and too strong and four wins in a row in league and cup have brought Steve McNamara’s team a leap forward.
A second-half hat-trick for winger Fouad Yaha and a brilliant shot on goal from James Maloney destroyed the Red Devils
Catalan captain Ben Garcia opened the gate by pushing himself between the posts in the 12th minute. In the left corner, Samisoni Langi crossed the center after Sam Tomkins split the Salford defense halfway. Maloney added a penalty after 27 minutes and the Dragons were 14-0 ahead.
Halfway through the line of visitors three minutes later, Mike McMeeken let go of Josh Drinkwater to walk untouched across the line. Maloney’s conversion brought it to 20-0.
Salford staged a mini-resuscitation after a series of penalties put them on the offensive, but too often the ball was lost or made contact.
The Red Devils had a tough start to the season against tough opponents at St. Helens and Hull FC and looked visibly tired as the halftime hooter approached.
It was similar in the second half, when the Catalans used two early penalties to push the Salford line and Tomkins and Langi together brought winger Yaha into the left corner. Maloney’s touchline conversion brought it to 26-0.
A ball theft from Matt Whitley then led McMeeken to deliver an outrageous one-handed back pass to get winger Tom Davies to the right. Maloney converted again to 32-0.
The Catalans could afford to wait until the 53rd minute before sacking hooker Michael McIlorum after his five-game ban, but it must have inspired Salford as Harvey Livett hit the tide with a powerful breakout and try which was converted by Morgan Escare.
But the dragons struck back when Yaha picked up a loose ball from close range for his second try. Maloney’s seventh conversion brought the goal line to 38-6.
The left winger then finished his hat trick, Maloney missing his first conversion of the evening from the sideline.