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Rugby League

Dragons dump Widnes out

21/05/2006

Catalans Dragons dumped Widnes out of the Challenge Cup with a 34-16 fifth round win.

Widnes have been struggling in National League One this season, and were no match for the French side.

Two tries from Bruno Verges - the first after 39 seconds - and one each from Michael Dobson and Laurent Frayssinous saw Catalans lead 24-10 at half-time.

Mick Nanyn and Mark Smith went over for Widnes and Nanyn grabbed a second try after the break.

But Les Catalans had already extended their lead through Mark Hughes and Justin Murphy's try wrapped things up.

The French side wasted little time in grabbing their first score after Widnes coughed up possession from the kick-off.

The hosts defended too tightly and a precise kick out wide enabled Verges to score a simple try, with Dobson, who landed five kicks out of six, adding the conversion.

The hosts hit back after 14 minutes when Nanyn crossed in the corner but he could not add the conversion.

Verges was then given space out wide once again to restore the Catalans' lead and they scored their third try when Dobson crossed after half an hour, with Dobson converting both to make it 18-4.

Mark Smith added a second try, with Nanyn converting, to lift the hosts but the final word of the half went to the visitors as Dobson added the extras to Laurent Frayssinous' try.

It was nearly 20 minutes into the second half before Hughes scored the Catalans' fifth try, which Dobson again converted, before they lost Renaud Guigue to the sin-bin after a flare-up.

While he was off the pitch Nanyn grabbed his second try and landed the conversion but the final word went to Murphy as Les Catalans ran out easy winners.

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