Wildcats beat Dragons to record first home win of the season

Wakefield fully deserved their victory at a sun-soaked Rapid Solicitors Stadium and out-played their French visitors in the first half to stroll to a 24-6 lead at the interval.

Three tries in ten first-half minutes, kicked-off by Ben Cockayne's seventh of the season after 13 minutes, put Richard Agar's men in control. Peter Fox followed up with his first try since the opening day win at Widnes and Andy Raleigh added a third to see Wildcats cruising.

Wakefield's defence allowed Catalans in for their first points on 34 minutes thanks to Gregory Mounis, Scott Dureau converting, but Wakefield finished on top thanks to Fox's superb 80-metre breakaway try. Isaac John converted all four successfully.

The hosts resumed control of the match in the second half, with a John penalty and Danny Kirmond try putting them further ahead.

But Dragons refused to throw in the towel and capitalised on some careless Wakefield defence to give themselves a glimmer of hope. Dureau converted his own try after intercepting a stray Cockayne pass and the Wakefield winger was again at fault when Vincent Duport touched down a Setaimata Sa kick ten minutes later.

Clint Greenshields scored the last try, and the best, of the match to make it a nervous final five minutes for the hosts. But Wakefield comfortably held on to bag their first win on home soil of the season and end a run of five straight defeats.

Wildcats: Mathers, Fox, Collis, Mellars, Cockayne, John, Smith, Amor, Aiton, Raleigh, Lauitiiti, Kirmond, Washbrook. Subs: Wood, Southern, Johnson, Wilkes.

Dragons: Bosc, Greenshields, Baile, Duport, Millard, Pryce, Dureau, Paea, Fisher, Casty, Sa, Raguin, Baitieri. Subs: Ferriol, Mounis, Pelissier, Fakir.

Attendance: 7,254.

Referee: Robert Hicks (Oldham).

See Friday's Wakefield Express Sport for full match report, reaction and pictures.