Round 5: Wakefield Trinity Wildcats v Catalans Dragons

Wakefield Trinity Wildcats v Catalans Dragons
Sunday 11th March, kick-off 3.30pm

http://forums.rleague.com/images/ava.../wakefield.gif V http://www.tinypic.com/nw08q8_th.jpg

Wakefield Trinity Wildcats 20-man squad: Pryce, Demetriou, Atkins, Tadulala, Rooney, Jeffries, Watene, Sculthorpe, Catic, MacGillivray, Ferres, P. March, Henderson, Elima, Latu, Blaymire, Fox, Golden, Ferguson, Moore.

Catalans Dragons 20-man squad: Berthezene, Bosc, Casty, Chan, Croker, Duport, Fellous, Ferriol, Gossard, Greenshields, Guisset, Jones, McGuire, Mogg, Mounis, Murphy, Pelo, Raguin, Teixido, Wilson.

Referee: P Bentham

Former Wigan Warriors and Castleford Tigers prop Danny Sculthorpe is set to make his home debut for Wakefield Trinity Wildcats after returning from injury as a substitute in last week?s win at Hull FC.

Centre Ryan Atkins returns after missing that game with an arm injury.

Catalans Dragons captain Stacey Jones hopes to make his first appearance of the season after recovering from knee surgery.

If he comes through a late fitness test, he will form a new half-back partnership with former Brisbane Broncos stand-off Casey McGuire.

Source: http://www.SuperLeague.co.uk

Dragons look for Jones boost

Catalans Dragons are hoping the possible return of captain Stacey Jones will help them break their duck away from home when they visit Wakefield Trinity Wildcats.

The veteran scrum-half has not played since the Tri-Nations Series final in November after undergoing knee surgery but has been included in coach Mick Potter?s squad.

"He?s looking fit and trim," said Potter.

"He?s not carrying any weight. If he can get some minutes under his belt, he will be better for it.

"I don?t expect him to work miracles but the team gets a boost from his presence."

John Kear?s Wildcats recovered superbly from their opening defeat at Hull KR to post three successive wins, including the scalps of last year?s Grand Finalists St Helens and Hull FC, and the Dragons boss insists their position among the leaders is richly deserved.

"They?re methodical and they?ve got some good players," said Potter. "Ben Jeffries gives them a lot of creativity and Richard Moore provides them with thrust and offload.

"It will be difficult for us. John Kear has been flying under the radar, which is good. It should be an interesting game."

http://www.superleague.co.uk/

Wakefield 40-20 Catalans

Quote:

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Wakefield: (10) 40
Tries: Tadulala, Demetriou 2, Jeffries, Blaymire, Fox, Rooney
Goals: Rooney 6

Catalans Dragons: (16) 20
Tries: Murphy 2, Croker
Goals: Bosc 4

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Wakefield shone in the second half to beat the Catalans Dragons for their fourth Super League win in a row.

The Wildcats found themselves 20-10 behind just after the break but scored 30 unanswered points to move up to second behind Bradford in the table.

Jamie Rooney was the architect, kicking six goals - five in the second half - and scoring a spectacular solo 90m try.

Ben Jeffries, Matt Blaymire, Peter Fox all went over while Jason Demetriou got his second try late on to seal it.

Wakefield took the lead after four minutes when the bounce from Rooney's kick fooled Justin Murphy and Semi Tadulala gathered to race in.

The Dragons piled on the pressure and Stacey Jones, on his return from injury, created the space for Jason Croker to send Justin Murphy over in the corner.

A Wakefield penalty allowed Rooney kick through for Jason Demetriou to score and then convert .

But two quick tries from Croker and Murphy, with his second of the afternoon, put the visitors in control.

The Dragons inched further ahead with two Thomas Bosc penalties early in the second half but Jeffries reduced the deficit when he darted over for a try from the base of a scrum, with Rooney converting.

Blaymire touched down from a bobbling Rooney kick and Fox scored in the corner after more good work from Rooney.

Rooney added the try his play deserved when he picked off Jones, off colour on his return from injury, to race through before Demetriou had the final say.
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Wakefield coach John Kear (on Jamie Rooney)
"You just look at the contribution the kid makes to the game - two 40-20s, another points haul and a solid defensive contribution. He should be making the headlines.

"He is growing in confidence and is a lad of tremendous ability. The departure of David Solomona may be the making of him and Ben Jeffries. They've had to take more responsibility and they seem to be relishing it.

"It was a good win and I thought the players deserved it for the way they hung in there."

Dragons coach Mick Potter
"There were some good signs in the first half but in the second we fell away.

"We didn't capitalise on some possession that we got and some of the skills were probably a little bit off.

"Stacey (Jones) would say himself he wasn't quite ready in terms of his timing and passing."
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Wakefield: Blaymire, Fox, Demetriou, Henderson, Tadulala, Rooney, Jeffries, Watene, P. March, Moore, Elima, MacGillivray, Ferres.
Replacements: Sculthorpe, Catic, Pryce, Latu.

Catalans Dragons: Greenshields, Murphy, Duport, Mogg, Pelo, McGuire, Jones, Chan, Teixido, Ferriol, Raguin, Croker, Mounis.
Replacements: Bosc, Fellous, Gossard, Guisset.

Referee: P Bentham (Warrington)

Source: http://www.BBC.co.uk