Leigh Leopards ran in five tries as they opened their Super League campaign with a 26-14 win over Leeds Rhinos at Leigh Sports Village.
Leeds, who finished just behind their opponents last season in fourth, got on the board first through a Chris Hankinson penalty after Jarrod O’Connor knocked the ball out of his grasp.
But Innes Senior headed over in the corner in the 16th minute – with a clever one-handed pass from Lachlan Lam – and it was 10-2 at the break after Edwin Ipape dived over for Leigh’s second try.
There were errors from both sides and another very costly one from Leeds from the restart led to the third try 10 seconds into the second half.
Riley Lumb spilled the ball from the kick-off, with Jack Hughes kicking through and then touching down.
Matt Davis’ next attempt, which was also heavily fouled by Leeds, was initially disallowed, but the video referee ruled he had grounded the ball after a lengthy review.
Cooper Jenkins’ individual effort in the 52nd minute gave Leeds their first try as tempers frayed and a mass brawl ended with Harry Newman and Davis both sent to the sin bin.
Leigh extended their lead to 18 points thanks to Lam’s 66th-minute try, with Brodie Croft’s late score giving Leeds scant consolation.
The Catalans start the season with Huddersfield victory
The Catalans began their Betfred Super League campaign with a win after beating Huddersfield 26-10 at the Stade Gilbert Brutus.
Tries from Ben Condon and Charlie Staines gave the hosts the advantage before Sam Halsall replied on the break, but further touchdowns from Tommy Makinson and Solomona Faataape secured an opening-round win either side of George Flanagan’s cross.
The Dragons opened the scoring in the 17th minute when Condon touched down and Toby Sexton added the extras before they almost extended their advantage but Faataape’s effort was ruled out by the video referee.
Sexton put the Dragons ahead with a penalty and Staines blasted through a gap to the ground for his second try of the evening, which Sexton converted.
Oliver Russell was booked for Huddersfield for a professional foul but the visitors managed to pull one back just before half-time when Halsall broke forward and crossed in the corner but Flanagan was unable to convert.
Leading 14-4, the Catalans almost went in early in the second half through Sexton, but they quickly got their third try – 64 minutes from time – when Faataape played the ball into Makinson to ground, with Sexton converting.
Flanagan then responded minutes later for the Giants after chasing down Tuimoala Lolohea’s kick and went on to score under the posts before converting his own try.
However, the French side ended the game with six minutes remaining when Faataape crashed down the left to the ground and Sexton’s conversion was successful.
Catalans Dragons coach Joel Tomkins: “We learned some lessons from last week [against Batley]I’m not sure exactly what the finish was today, but it was pretty good. Overall, we’re really happy with some of the things we did tonight.
“I’m really proud, proud of the effort. I was really happy with the energy and the enthusiasm we showed up with. Some really good signs for us going forward through the rest of the season. If we can keep that level of energy, then we’ll be fine.”
After competing in rainy conditions, Huddersfield Giants coach Luke Robinson said: “I think all credit to the Catalans, I think they gave us a bit of a lesson in how to play rugby in wet weather.
“It was a bit of a battle of energy, especially towards the end of the first half, they scored four tries and we scored two so there wasn’t much to it. But I think field position and territory was massive and that was because we gave away seven penalties in the first half.”