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Leigh (6) 16
Tries: Niu 2, Senior Goals: Cook 2
Catalans (6) 22
Tries: Wilson, Staines, Dodd Goals: Sexton 5
Catalans Dragons went back to winning methods following back-to-back Super League beats with a narrow success at Leigh Leopards.
Tries from Harvey Wilson, Charlie Staines and Lewis Dodd breathed new fire into the Dragons following frustrating beats by St Helens and Bradford Bulls in their past 2 matches.
Tesi Niu scored 2 excellent tries for Leigh, either side of winger Innes Senior's rating, however it proved to be in vain for the hosts.
Leigh have actually now lost three Super League matches in a row and will require to see an improvement in efficiencies if they are to be in the play-off shake-up once again this year.
The visitors' preparation for the match was struck when a mechanical fault on their airplane from Perpignan required them to make an emergency landing in Bordeaux, indicating their journey to Greater Manchester took 16 hours to finish.
And they were dealt a further blow before kick-off when winger Tommy Makinson picked up an injury in the warm-up and needed to be changed in the starting line-up by Leo Darrelatour.
In the 8th minute, Leigh capitalized when excellent hands from Lachlan Lam allowed stand-in full-back Gareth O'Brien to discover Senior, who raced clear before establishing Niu to slide in for an outstanding group shot. Adam Cook added the bonus fantastically from the touchline.
Lam was then adjudged to have blocked off Nick Cotric's attempts to challenge for a high ball, and after Catalans were granted another set of 6 deep in Leigh territory, Wilson went over determinedly for his very first Super League shot of the season under the sticks.
Catalans then went close to taking the lead before the break however Darrelatour was pressed into touch when attempting to score in the left corner.
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Moments after the restart, Toby Sexton kicked Catalans into a minor advantage in front of the sticks after Liam Horne was condemned of a ball take.
A stunning offload from Wigan Warriors loanee Kruise Leeming - one of 11 brand-new signings from last season in Catalans' matchday team - permitted Sexton to charge forward before he discovered Staines, who ended up a remarkable relocation from close variety.
Catalans' two-score lead lasted less than 5 minutes though as O'Brien discovered Niu and he passed to winger Senior, who dived over in the left corner unopposed.
A no-look pass from Lam then went loose and was attacked upon by Darrelatour. He raced 80 lawns and smartly recycled the ball before Sexton found fellow half-back Dodd for an essential third shot for the away side.
With 15 minutes left, Niu pulled off the moment of the match, picking the ball up deep in his own half, avoiding a difficulty from Cotric, before tricking Staines with excellent footwork to dive over for a fantastic individual score.
In the dying minutes, Leigh piled on the pressure in their quest to find a winning rating, however outstanding safeguarding from the Dragons dispatched their attempts, and the visitors put the seal on the win through Sexton's 5th effective kick shortly before the hooter sounded.
'We lacked club's DNA' - response
"Frustrating once again tonight. We had plenty of opportunities again to win that game but it just felt like it was never actually in our favour the entire time.
"There were turning points like the obstruct attempt. [If] we nail the ability there, we score the shot and we most likely win the game - that was most likely the most discouraging part.
"It's [been] a difficult night. There was plenty of effort however we did not have the game-sense. It's difficult to see sometimes and we're having a hard time to put together 2 to 3 sets of attacks.
"We only had 19 [gamers] to choose from but that's not an excuse. We did not have the DNA of us as a club.
"We could not score points when we required them most which's what we did actually well in 2015 so we're a long way behind our finest at the moment".
Catalans Dragons head coach Joel Tomkins told Sky Sports:
"I'm actually, actually pleased with the young boys. They had a bit of a problem journey yesterday. The scramble, the desire and simply the work for each other, they never ever gave up, and I thought we got what we deserved tonight.
"We have actually got a couple of injuries at the minute, but what we have actually got is a group of lads who want to strive.
"We might not be the most knowledgeable group, but they're going to be available in and they're going to work hard for each other. On the back of that, they'll get outcomes.
"In the week, we had some truthful discussions, and it's going to be a long season for us if we turn out performances like we did last week. If we end up efficiencies like we did this evening, then it'll be a really pleasurable one."
[On his side's journey to Leigh:] "Obviously, its not best preparation however we never ever have perfect preparation - we balance eight to 10 hours [of] travel [for away fixtures]
"That belongs to betting Catalans. It's a special group to be a part of - residing in the south of France and playing in the English Super League.
"We don't whinge about it, we utilize it as a connection piece for the group. We might do some connecting flights for a few more away games if we turn up like that."
Leigh: O'Brien; Senior, Niu, Brand, Charnley; Cook, Lam; Trout, McNamara, Mulhern, Halton, Alick-Wiencke, Liu.
Interchanges: Hughes, Brown, Badrock, Horne.
Catalans: Staines; Darrelatour, Cotric, Faataape, Laulu-Togaga'e; Sexton, Dodd; Allen, Da Costa, Navarrete, Laguerre, Lipowicz, Wilson.
Interchanges: Satae, Condon, Leeming, Chan.