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Dragons move into semi-finals
22:45, Sep 25 2009
Catalans Dragons are just 80 minutes away from a maiden Grand Final appearance after completing a hat-trick of surprise end-of-season away victories.
The Perpignan club, who only made the Super League play-offs because the system was expanded to the top eight clubs, followed up their shock wins over St Helens and Wakefield by ending the hopes of Challenge Cup finalists Huddersfield.
Tries in the final quarter from winger Dimitri Pelo and second rower Olivier Elima eventually settled an uncompromising preliminary semi-final at the Galpharm Stadium after defences dominated for an hour.
Catalans must now make a fourth successive visit to England next weekend to take on Leeds or St Helens in the semi-finals as they seek to emulate Australian club Parramatta in reaching the Grand final from eight place.
Catalans took the lead after 19 minutes when influential stand-off Adam Mogg got Clint Greenshields on an arcing run to the corner and the full-back managed to touch down despite the attention of three defenders.
As the penalty count turned around, the Mogg-Greenshields partnership caused all sorts of problems for Huddersfield's defence while Catalans managed to keep a tight rein on the Giants' dangerous attacker Brett Hodgson.
It needed a flash of inspiration by scrum-half Luke Robinson to draw Huddersfield level as he jinked his way through the first line of defence and evaded Greenshields on a mazy run to the line five minutes before half-time.
Hodgson's goal edged his side in front but Greenshields thought he had restored the visitors' lead when he successfully ran back Hodgson's kick from 60 metres out only to have the try disallowed for an obstruction by team-mate Julien Touxagas.
Defences were on top in the second-half but the deadlock was eventually broken after 62 minutes when Pelo dribbled the ball to the corner and won the race to the touchdown.
Thomas Bosc made up for his earlier miss by landing the touchline conversion and then combined with Bird to get Elima over for the clinching try 10 minutes from the end.
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