Catalans Dragons snap six-match shedding streak in Tremendous League with victory over Castleford Tigers; Reimis Smith scores hat-trick; residence aspect cope with out Tommy Makinson; watch each Tremendous League match on Sky, together with Wigan-Wakefield and Huddersfield-Warrington on Sunday
By PA Sport
Final Up to date: 23/08/25 9:44pm
Reimis Smith scored a hat-trick in opposition to Castleford as Catalans returned to successful methods
Reimis Smith scored a hat-trick as Catalans Dragons ended a run of six straight Betfred Tremendous League defeats by dismantling Castleford Tigers 38-4.
Debutant Alfie Lindsey put the guests forward however Catalans roared again with a pair of tries from New Zealand centre Smith to steer 10-4 at half-time.
Fouad Yaha, Luke Keary, Guillermo Aispuro-Bichet, who additionally kicked eight factors, and Alrix Da Costa continued the Dragons’ momentum earlier than Smith accomplished his treble on the demise for a much-needed victory for the French outfit.
Catalans had been lacking winger Tommy Makinson with a shoulder damage and he was changed by the membership’s all-time prime try-scorer Yaha.
Joe Westerman travelled to France however didn’t make the ultimate lower as injury-hit Castleford began teenager Lindsey on the wing.
Residence head coach Joel Tomkins had requested his gamers to place a smile on the faces of French supporters who’ve had little to shout about in a season to overlook.
How the match unfolded
There was extra distress within the opening minutes when full-back Aispuro-Bichet spilled the ball on his personal 20-metre line and Castleford hooker Liam Horne scooted between the posts with the free ball, though video referee Jack Smith disallowed the strive after ruling a deal with had been accomplished.
There was little doubt moments later when Lindsey dotted down in the precise nook after a sweeping transfer following a interval of intense stress on the Dragons’ line.
Smith levelled the scores in opposition to the run of play within the twenty second minute after he picked up a intelligent cross from Aispuro-Bichet to stride over the road from 10 metres out.
The hosts had the possibility to take the lead when Yaha chipped by way of, however Keary couldn’t gather the ball for what would have been a easy rating.
Keary made amends on the stroke of half-time when he stumbled and regained his toes to feed Smith for his second strive, transformed by Aispuro-Bichet for a 10-4 residence lead which didn’t mirror the dominant opening half for Castleford.
Yaha stretched the house aspect’s benefit when the winger collected a protracted cross from Keary to cross within the left nook within the forty ninth minute, and issues obtained worse for Castleford when full-back Jenson Windley left the sphere with concussion.
The Dragons went additional forward when Ollie Partington fed Keary for a stroll over the road for the killer strive within the 61st minute.
His half-back associate, Theo Fages, then landed a 40-20 kick and Aispuro-Bichet was subsequent to attain with a strive on the left as Catalans turned up the warmth.
Hooker Da Costa added additional gloss with a trademark dummy-half scoot over the road earlier than Smith accomplished his hat-trick late on.
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