Six-try St Helens thrash Catalans in Perpignan

Betfred Super League

Catalans Dragons (0) 4

Try: Staines

St Helens (6) 36

Daryl Clark marked his 350th Super League appearance with two tries in St Helens’ thumping victory at Catalans Dragons.

Clark’s 11th-minute finish at the end of a flowing and well-worked team move was the difference as the visitors led 6-0 at the break.

Jacob Host and Shane Wright both went over before Clark grabbed his second try of the night in Perpignan.

In a hectic start, Staines pulled off an early try-saving tackle of Tristan Sailor out wide before being crowded out at the other end as he chased down a dangerous kick.

Both chances came in quick succession and just before Clark opened the scoring, Wright punching through the Dragons’ defence to send the England international over.

Saints’ early-season trip to France reunited them with Lewis Dodd for the first time since he made his Super League return with Catalans after a one-year stint in Australia’s NRL with South Sydney.

He went close to grabbing a memorable try against the club with whom he won three Super League titles, a Challenge Cup and World Club Challenge, but fumbled the ball in a tackle just short of the line after a darting run.

Host then linked up with Clark to bulldoze over at the other end to add to the visitors’ advantage soon after, and Wright went over again for Saints on the hour mark by spinning out of the clutches of three attempted tacklers to touch down.

Clark pounced out of dummy half and went over from close range to help make it 24-0 with 15 minutes left and, while Staines linked up with Josh Simm on the left edge to get a try back for the stunned home side, it quickly got worse for Catalans.

Catalans Dragons: Staines; Makinson, Cotric, Faataape, Simm; Sexton, Dodd; Allen, Da Costa, Chan, Laguerre, Lipowicz, Garcia.

Replacements: Faasuamaleaui, Wilson, Leeming, Lis.

St Helens: McDonald; Feldt, Robertson, Cross, Murphy; Sailor, Hastings; Walmsley, Clark, Klemmer, Sironen, Wright, Shorrocks.

Replacements: Host, Delaney, Whitley, Whitby.