Catalans too strong for slumping Saints

Catalans Dragons moved up to second place in Super League and heaped further misery on out-of-form St Helens with a 33-16 victory in Perpignan.

Saints headed to the south of France having lost three matches in a row to lose touch with the top four and suffered a further blow before kick-off on Saturday as full-back Jonny Lomax was forced to pull out of the starting 13 after sustaining an injury in the warm-up.

The visitors were nevertheless competitive in an opening period that ended with Catalans 13-6 to the good courtesy of two converted tries, from Fouad Yaha and Lucas Albert, and a Todd Carney drop goal.

Adam Swift added to Louie McCarthy-Scarsbrook's first-half score to get Saints within three points five minutes after the interval.

However, Catalans soon surged clear, Jodie Broughton crossing twice in the space of eight minutes either side of a Morgan Escare try before Tony Gigot added another four-pointer.

The visitors scored last through a converted Jack Owens try, but Saints remain six points behind fourth-placed Warrington Wolves, one of two teams leapfrogged by Catalans along with Wigan Warriors.