Catalan Dragons 24 Leeds Rhinos 34: Rhinos hold off spirited Catalans fightback to pick up win

Leading by 20 points just after the half hour, the visitors seemed to have the contest sewn up before Kylie Leuluai was sin-binned and Kevin Sinfield made an uncharacteristic error.

Catalans were the first to make an impression, Jerome Guisset powering through Sinfield's challenge to get the ball down.

There was an element of fortune about the Rhinos' instant response, Danny McGuire's bomb on the last tackle going unchallenged by the home side before taking a wicked bounce.

It was collected by Ali Lauitiiti who fed Leuluai before taking the return pass to cross by the posts.

Sinfield's flat pass then sent Jamie Jones-Buchanan through to score and the Rhinos soon posted a third try, Brent Webb and Lauitiiti sending Keith Senior powering to the corner.

From the restart Leeds conjured another flowing move with Senior eventually sending McGuire cantering to the posts.

Dragons continued to be their own worst enemies, knocking on in midfield and, after Webb had been heavily involved, Burrow fed McGuire whose grubber kick sat up perfectly for Brett Delaney to gather and touch down.

The home side eventually hit back through Dallas Johnson's try and Thomas Bosc's goal made it 26-12 at the break.

Catalans were thrown another lifeline after the interval when Leuluai was sin-binned after a late challenge on Dimitri Pelo, Julien Touxagas going over for a try, Bosc adding the extras.

Sinfield then committed a cardinal error on the last tackle, deciding to shepherd Bosc's grubber out of play but failing to see Kane Bentley sneaking in on his blind side to touch down.

Bosc maintained his perfect kicking record to reduce the gap to four points before a touch of brilliance sealed the win for the visitors.

Sinfield made amends for his earlier mistake, seeting up a try for McGuire, before his conversion made it 34-24.

Catalans Dragons: Pelo, Bell, Carlaw, Touxagas, Vaccari, McGuire, Bosc, Ferriol, K. Bentley, Guisset, Fakir, Mounis, Johnson. Substitutes: Martins, Gigot, Stacul, A Bentley.

Leeds Rhinos: Webb, Smith, Delaney, Senior, Hall, McGuire, Sinfield, Leuluai, Diskin, Bailey, Jones-Buchanan, Lauitiiti, Ablett. Substitutes: Burrow, Kirke, Burgess, Ambler.

Referee: B Thaler (Wakefield).