WAKEFIELD TRINITY fell agonisingly short of a remarkable comeback which would have secured their first-ever win in Perpignan against Catalans Dragons.
The Dragons were able to hang on and record their third straight win, making a dream start at Stade Gilbert Brutus against their injury-hit opponents with prop David Ferriol scoring his first try of the season after only three minutes.
The in-for
m Frenchmen added further tries through winger Cyril Stacul and full-back Clint Greenshields and Thomas Bosc added two conversions to put his side 16-0 ahead.
Wakefield prop Ricky Bibey scored his first try of the season four minutes into the second half and Jamie Rooney added the conversion. But when second rower Dane Carlaw touched down for the second successive match on 49 minutes to make it 22-6, the Dragons looked to have made sure of victory.
But John Kear's men gave themselves a real chance with a three-try burst in 20 minutes.
Front rower Richard Moore crashed over, followed by full-back Matt Blaymire, but Rooney was wide with both conversion attempts. However, the game was blown wide open when substitute Scott Grix added a fourth Wakefield try on 76 minutes and Rooney's second goal cut the deficit to just two points.
It needed a last-gasp try from veteran prop Alex Chan to calm the nerves of the partisan crowd and Bosc applied the finishing touches with a fourth goal to leave the Wildcats still looking for their first away win of 2008.
Catalans Dragons: Greenshields, Stacul, Wilson, Duport, Pelo, Mogg, Bosc, Ferriol, Gorrell, Chan, Raguin, Croker, Mounis. Substitutes: Carlaw, Fakir, Casty, Touxagas.
Wakefield Trinity: Blaymire, Gleeson, Martin, Demetriou, Murphy, Rooney, Brough, Watene, Golden, Wilkes, Moore, MacGillivray, Ferguson. Substitutes: Bibey, Henderson, Grix, Sculthorpe.
Referee: R Silverwood (Dewsbury)
