Agar joy as Wakefield end wait for first home triumph

Winger Peter Fox scored his first tries since the Wildcats’ opening-day win at Widnes and the home side led 30-6 after 51 minutes before withstanding a late rally from their French visitors.

Scott Dureau, Vincent Duport and Clint Greenshields all scored late tries as the Dragons cut the gap to just eight points, but Wakefield stand-off Isaac John closed out the game with a penalty on the final hooter.

One lapse in defence by Richard Agar’s men let the Catalans in for a try on 34 minutes, scored by Gregory Mounis and converted by Dureau, but the Wildcats had the better of the first half and were good value for their 24-6 lead.

Winger Ben Cockayne opened the scoring after 12 minutes with his seventh try of the season and two in five minutes from Fox and Andy Raleigh midway through the first half put the home team in control.

Fox closed the half with an 80-metre breakaway try, converted by John, who was on target with all four first-half conversions.

John added to Wakefield’s healthy lead with penalty and a try from Danny Kirmond on 52 minutes looked to have secured the points.

But the Perpignan team struck back through Dureau and Duport and Wakefield survived a late scare when a four-man move over 70 metres put Greenshields in for a try, converted by Dureau.

“I thought we were really strong at times,” said Trinity coach Richard Agar. “We never felt comfortable, though, because you can’t against a side that is dangerous all over the park.”

“It will do us good to know that we can get over the line.

“Our performances have been getting better. Not winning can make a team get anxious but we’ve not been able to wait for the next game. We’re still learning how to win a game and in a few weeks I`d like to think we’ll be closing out games sooner.”

Wakefield: Mathers, Fox, Collis, Mellars, Cockayne, John, Smith, Amor, Aiton, Raleigh, Lauitiiti, Kirmond, Washbrook. Substitutes: Wood, Southern, Johnson, Wilkes.

Catalan Dragons: Bosc, Greenshields, Baile, Duport, Millard, Pryce, Dureau, Paea, Fisher, Casty, Sa, Raguin, Baitieri. Substitutes: Ferriol, Mounis, Pelissier, Fakir.

Referee: R Hicks (Oldham).