FORUMS FORUMS






RLFANS.COM
Celebrating
25 years service to
the Rugby League
Community!
  

It was the twenty-fourth Super League Grand Final at Old Trafford as the minor premiers, Catalans Dragons, took on the defending champions St Helens with eighty minutes separating both teams from glory.

It was the final that it should have been, the top two sides in the league facing off against one another but most neutrals would be ‘Dragons for a Day’ in the hope that there would be a new name on the trophy in 2021.

The Dragons won two out of the three games that the sides have played, including that memorable last second win at the Magic Weekend, but the bookies had made the Saints the favourites for the win as they expected Grand Final experience to count.

The atmosphere was electric from the kick-off, despite some gaps in the stadia and an empty upper stand. Saints had the upper hand as the Dragons spent their time in defence, managing to keep their line intact.

The Dragons took the lead after getting a penalty on their first foray into the Saints half, James Maloney slotting the ball between the uprights.

A jinking Kevin Naiqama scored the opening try of the game as he mesmerised the Dragons defence and then forced the ball onto the ground with the Catalans tacklers trying to hold him up in goal. Lachlan Coote was unable to add the conversion from wide, Saints with a 4-0 lead.

A high tackle from Benjamin Garcia on Jonny Lomax gave Coote a simple penalty goal opportunity and he drilled the kick between the uprights of twenty-one to double Saints lead.

Both teams lost the ball in quick succession on twenty-four and after a set restart the Dragons were given a penalty in front of the sticks and just ten from the line. Maloney kicked the simple goal to reduce the arrears.

Saints certainly had the best of the first half but took a slender two-point lead into the interval and despite being under pressure for long periods the Catalans Dragons were still in the game after a bruising opening forty minutes.

A high tackle from Tommy Makinson on Fouad Yaha prevented the first Dragons try on forty-five with the Saints winger being shown a yellow card and the Dragons being presented with a penalty.

A forty-eight minute Josh Drinkwater 40-20 put the Dragons in the perfect strike position and on the last tackle a high Drinkwater kick to the corner was tapped back by Tom Davies into the hands of Mike McMeeken to ground over the line, and to put the minor premiers back into the lead. Maloney added the conversion, the Dragons 10-6 ahead.

As the hour mark passed the Dragons maintained their lead but Saints had visibly upped a gear.

On sixty-five Naiqama got his second of the game as he slid in from five metres after collecting a pin-point Lomax grubber kick. As Naiqama left the field following an injury sustained in scoring the try, Coote added the conversion to edge his side into a 12-10 lead with thirteen minutes remaining.

It was the Dragons turn to crank up the pressure as they forced back to back goal line dropouts, but Saints held firm and when they kicked to clear their lines Tom Davies made a big mistake and parried the ball into touch. Try as they might the Dragons couldn’t make the breakthrough as Saints defended for their lives.

Saints held on against a very determined Dragons side to win their third consecutive Grand Final and draw them level with the Leeds Rhinos on eight wins in the modern era. The Dragons were worthy opponents and pushed the Champions every step of the way but in the end, they came up short. All credit to both sides for serving up a great final, and congratulations to Saints on a terrific win.

St Helens: Coote (2G), Makinson (SB on 45), Naiqama (2T), Percival, Grace, Lomax, Dodd, Walmsley, Roby, Lees, Mata’utia, Batchelor, Knowles. Subs: Amor, Paasi, Welsby, McCarthy-Scarsbrook.

Catalans Dragons: Tomkins S, Yaha, Langi, Whare, Davies, Drinkwater, Maloney (3G), Bousquet, McIlorum, Dudson, Whitley, McMeeken (T), Garcia. Subs:  Mourgue, Goudemand, Tomkins J, Kasiano.

Half-Time: 4-6.

Full-Time: 10-12.

Referee: Liam Moore.

Score Progression: 2-0, 2-4, 2-6, 4-6 : HT : (SB), 8-6, 10-6, 10-10, 10-12 : FT.

Venue: Old Trafford, Manchester.



facebook sharing button
twitter sharing button
pinterest sharing button
email sharing button
sharethis sharing button


Posted by RLFANS News Hound on Sat 9th Oct 2021 8:03 PM | Views : 37876 | Replies : 0 | BACK TO STORIES



All views expressed are those of the author and not necessarily those of the RLFANS.COM or its subsites.

Whilst every effort is made to ensure that news stories, articles and images are correct, we cannot be held responsible for errors. However, if you feel any material on this website is copyrighted or incorrect in any way please contact us using the link at the top of the page so we can remove it or negotiate copyright permission.

RLFANS.COM, the owners of this website, is not responsible for the content of its sub-sites or posts, please email the author of this sub-site or post if you feel you find an article offensive or of a choice nature that you disagree with.

Copyright 1999 - 2024 RLFANS.COM

You must be 18+ to gamble, for more information and for help with gambling issues see https://www.begambleaware.org/.



Please Support RLFANS.COM


7.12158203125:5
RLFANS Recent Posts
FORUM
LAST
POST
TOPIC
POSTER
POSTS
14m
DoR - New Coach - Investor & Adam - New signings
ComeOnYouUll
522
16m
BORED The Band Name Game
Boss Hog
57541
16m
Todays match v Leigh
rubber ducki
67
24m
RD 9 Hull FC A
Jrrhino
5
24m
IN 2025 Ryan Hall - Expires 2025
cheekydiddle
41
42m
Game - Song Titles
Boss Hog
35637
Recent
Rumours and signings v9
CobraCraig
28355
Recent
WIRE YED Prediction Competition Salford Away
Wanderer
17
Recent
2024 Southstandercom Prediction Competition Week 9
The Biffs Ba
31
Recent
ALL NEW 49ERS ERA LEEDS UTD THREAD
tad rhino
1598
FORUM
LAST
VIEW
TOPIC
POSTER
POSTS
26s
Recruitment rumours and links
Wires71
2372
30s
Shopping list for 2025
GrahamBray
1076
36s
Game - Song Titles
Boss Hog
35637
56s
BORED The Band Name Game
Boss Hog
57541
1m
Toulouse next
Trojan Horse
11
1m
Leeds at Home
B0NES
38
1m
Sam Eseh
CM Punk
2
3m
KR A
Zig
19
4m
Rowley
Exeter Rhino
96
4m
ALL NEW 49ERS ERA LEEDS UTD THREAD
tad rhino
1598
FORUM
NEW
TOPICS
TOPIC
POSTER
POSTS
TODAY
Sam Eseh
CM Punk
2
TODAY
RD 9 Hull FC A
Jrrhino
5
TODAY
Squad for Salford
Bunkaib
4
TODAY
Salford Away Travel Info
Uncle Rico
2
TODAY
Hunslet RLFC
FIL
2
TODAY
Toulouse next
Trojan Horse
11
TODAY
Squads - Leopards v Dragons
LeythIg
5
TODAY
Paul Rowley wont be taking the Hull FC job
Huddersfield
1
TODAY
SWINTON LIONS
Miserybusine
6
TODAY
swinton
Brew
2
TODAY
KR A
Zig
19
TODAY
Vale Terry Hill
Sadfish
1
TODAY
George King
satanicmills
5
TODAY
Widnes H
Bullseye
4
TODAY
French championship final
Cokey
4
TODAY
Josh Drinkwater
imwakefieldt
16
TODAY
Dons v Dewsbury Sunday 28/4/24 3pm
Keith Lard's
4
TODAY
Corey Hall
Dr Dreadnoug
20
TODAY
Darnell McIntosh to Leigh
LeythIg
21
TODAY
80 minutes
Start@1873
9
TODAY
Wigan academy products
Zig
15
TODAY
WIRE YED Prediction Competition Salford Away
Wanderer
17
TODAY
Commentators
MorePlaymake
5
TODAY
Going down
Greg Florimo
5
TODAY
Wakefield Trinity Too Strong For the Batley Bulldogs
RLFANS News
1
TODAY
Castleford away next
Deadcowboys1
16
TODAY
Ryan Hall to leave the Robins and join Leeds at the end of t
RoyBoy29
2
NEWS ITEMS
VIEWS
Wakefield Trinity Too Strong F..
989
Catalans Dragons Destroy Hull ..
720
Warrington Wolves Break Leigh ..
832
Huddersfield Giants Fight Back..
872
France v England International..
1638
Warrington Stun St Helens In C..
2293
2024 Challenge Cup Semi-Finals..
1945
Wigan Warriors Demolish Woeful..
1908
Hull KR Eliminate the Cup Hold..
2043
Bradford Bulls Come From Behin..
2448
Bradford Bulls Beat Feathersto..
2955
Giants Thrash FC Again For Top..
2873
Warrington Brush Aside The Rhi..
2471
Wigan Coast to Victory over Le..
2445
Giants Come From Behind For Ea..
2704