Catalan Dragons resisted a second-half comeback by Leeds Rhinos to win 38-34 at the Stade Gilbert Brutus in Perpignan this evening.
The hosts took a 20-0 lead inside the opening 20 minutes thanks to tries from Setaimata Sa, Scott Dureau and Remi Casty.
Dureau kicked over all three conversions on a day which saw the half-back score 14 points with the boot.
Leeds responded before the break thanks to scores from Shaun Lunt and Ben Jones-Bishop.
Vincent Duport and Casty then went over for Catalan after half-time to extend their lead.
Ryan Hall, Jimmy Keinhorst and Jamie Jones-Buchanan all touched down to bring Leeds within two points of their opponents with just five minutes remaining.
However, Daryl Millard's try, converted by Dureau, edged the Dragons in front in the dying moments.
There was still time for late drama when Jones-Bishop went over for his second try of the match, but it wasn't enough for the visitors.
Jack Prescott
