FOR a second successive game at home in the Super 8s phase, Catalans had Ben Pomeroy sent off, yet prevailed with 12 men. The Australian centre, also dismissed in the previous 26-16 defeat of St Helens, was again ordered from the field for an appalling challenge on Ashley Gibson. Once again, his team-mates dug in for a win that frustrated Castleford's efforts to muscle in on the top four.
It was the Tigers' sixth loss in Perpignan stretching back to a rare win in 2010. Catalans are getting used to playing without Pomeroy, who could face a lengthy suspension when the judiciary meets on Tuesday, and they took advantage of Castleford's reshuffling with Gibson off and fellow three-quarter Michael Shenton's disappearance with a bad-looking shoulder injury.
Pomeroy's sending off for smashing his shoulder into the jaw of St Helens' Josh Jones left his side short with 37 minutes remaining of their first Super 8 game. This time his agricultural tackle on Gibson came even earlier, on only 28 minutes. Still, Tony Gigot completed his second hat-trick of the season and Morgan Escare touched down twice as the Tigers failed to make anything of their numerical advantage.
Castleford took a 6am flight from Leeds-Bradford airport and were rubbing their eyes from the start. Adam Milner conceded a crass penalty in the opening minute and Catalans plundered their first try, Todd Carney and Escare creating room for Gigot to cut his way inside for a try verified by the video officials, despite the suspicion of a double movement.
Five penalties against the visitors in the first 11 minutes compounded their woes. Carney, the former Australia half-back, pulled the strings for Zeb Taia, the Cook Islands forward bound for the Gold Coast Titans in 2016, to thunder across, before Jeff Lima was another beneficiary of Carney carving Castleford open on the left.
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When Carney then combined with Thomas Bosc for the Dragons' fourth try there seemed little that could disturb their equilibrium, until Pomeroy's extraordinary intervention. His tackle that left Gibson in a neck brace was the result of a suplex move from professional wrestling in lifting the centre, rolling him across his back and slamming him to the ground.
The ugliness of the challenge left Catalans a man down for 52 minutes and they immediately succumbed to Luke Gale's chip to the left corner and Justin Carney seizing the ball for his 18th try of the season.
Nonetheless, the home side extended their lead in the last 30 seconds of the half, when Taia defused Ben Roberts' kick and offloaded to the unstoppable Escare 85 metres out. Bosc's first of six conversions made it 26-6, though Castleford struck first within two minutes of the re-start as Shenton located Oliver Holmes unmarked wide on the left.
Carney's booming pass to the left flank resulted in Gigot's second touchdown. Without Gibson, Milner, the hooker, was pressed into service on the wing but came up with the first of a brace in seizing Gale's dinked kick, before the predatory Gigot intercepted Justin Carney's stray pass. Junior Moors wrestled his way over at the other end, before Escare added his second try.
In the Super 8 qualifiers, Super League clubs continue to dominate their Championship counterparts. Leigh knocked Wakefield out of the Challenge Cup, though the top-flight club had their revenge in a 17-6 win at Leigh Sports Village.
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It was the seventh successive victory for Super League clubs over lower league opponents in the middle eight league. Wakefield trailed 16-6 after Liam Kay had added to tries by Fuifui Moimoi and Jonny Pownall for the Centurions after 34 minutes. But Jacob Miler pulled a try back on the verge of half-time and jinked across for another in the 58th minute.
Despite the loss of hooker Michael Sio to the sin-bin for a dangerous tackle on Gregg McNally, Wakefield managed the situation confidently and a drop goal 12 minutes from the finish by Lee Smith secured a second victory in the qualifiers.
Star man: Todd Carney (Catalans)
Catalans: Escare; Inu, Gigot, Pomeroy, Sigismeau; T Carney, Bosc; Elima, Pelissier, Lima, Taia, Whitehead, Baitieri (capt). Replacements: Henderson, Anderson, Garcia, Bousquet
Castleford: Roberts; Gibson, Channing, Shenton (capt), J Carney; Finn, Gale; Lynch, Milner, Millington, Holmes, McMeeken, Massey. Replacements: Cook, Moors, Springer, McShane