BRITS HELP LEOPARDS BREAK DUCK
PROPS Isaac Shaw and Connor Terrill played crucial roles in securing Villeneuve’s first win of the season at the twelfth attempt as visitors St Estève-XIII Catalan were beaten 22-18.
With ten minutes left, 20-year-old former Wakefield player Shaw, on his debut, crashed over for the try which, with Thomas Lasvenes’ conversion, gave the Leopards the lead for the first time at 18- 16 after they had twice trailed by ten points.
But on the last play of the 80 minutes, Villeneuve were penalised and Catalans’ Paul Marty landed an equalising penalty-goal to send the game into golden-point extra time.
However within minutes, 22-year old Barrow old boy Terrill powered over for the winning try amid celebrations mixed with relief.
The top two, Limoux and Carcassonne, were made to work hard for their victories.
At Avignon, the outcome was in doubt until Pat Templeman landed the field-goal which put Limoux 23-16 ahead with six minutes left.
It was the Australian halfback who had given his side a slight edge in the first half, touching down twice in five minutes to help secure a 16-12 lead at the break.
Avignon’s Olivier Arnaud hit back as he dummied his way over to level the scores before Limoux’s Stan Robin crossed just before the hour for what would be the last try of the game.
St Gaudens put on a brave performance at home Carcassonne, but were undone by Maika Serevelu’s hat-trick in the ten minutes before half-time. The