Dragons brush aside Broncos

Vincent Duport and Louis Anderson both crossed for two tries as the Catalan Dragons stormed to a 36-18 victory over the London Broncos in the capital.

Duport and Anderson struck once either side of the interval as the visitors claimed a deserved triumph.

Unsurprisingly the hosts went into the contest unchanged from their last outing, the 36-0 romp against Wakefield on Saturday.

And the French side were also in good form, having destroyed Widnes at the weekend.

Historically clashes between the two sides have been close-fought, high-scoring affairs and the Dragons came mightily close to a try inside the first four minutes, Kieran Dixon somehow hauling Damien Blanch into touch as he looked to cross in the corner.

The first score was not long in coming though, the Catalans romping home when Leon Pryce started a stunning move that saw Anderson surge over.

It was the visitors who bossed the opening 15 minutes, claiming their second score when Duport profited after Pryce's kick unsettled the London defence.

The Broncos were looking ragged, a far cry from their efforts in front of the cameras five days previously.

But as the half wore on the hosts finally woke from their slumber, only to find the Dragons defence in determined mood.

While the Broncos were lacking a cutting edge, the Dragons were looking dangerous at every opportunity, Shane Rodney snuffing out another assault when he scragged Scott Dureau.

Minutes before half-time though the home side were given a lifeline when Blanch knocked on near his own line, Rodney powering over to reduce the deficit from the resulting scrum.

Crucial

The game was there for the taking for either side with just four points in it at the break, with the first score after the interval looking crucial.

And it was the Dragons who seized the initiative five minutes into the second half, Duport claiming his second score after the Broncos were penalised close to their own posts.

Just as in the first half the away side really had their tails up, and Anderson helped himself to his second try of the game moments later, finishing off Dureau's kick.

London's defence was non-existent, and the French side were close to securing the points when they grabbed their third try in the space of five minutes, Steve Menzies romping over from close range.

Dureau then burst over himself as the Dragons once again cut the men from the capital to ribbons.

The Broncos simply has no answer, with handling errors and poor decision-making costing them dearly.

To their credit the hosts did splutter back into life again after 63 minutes, Luke Dorn speeding through after Antonio Kaufusi was held just short.

And there was more cheer for the Londoners five minutes later, Michael Robertson barging through a handful of tackles to score.

Ian Henderson was then sin-binned after a late hit, but it was Pryce who was to have the final say, bursting over for a late try of his own.