Wheelchair Challenge Cup: Catalans Dragons demolish Wigan Warriors to retain title

wheelchair challenge cup: catalans dragons demolish wigan warriors to retain title

Catalans Dragons win the Wheelchair Challenge Cup

Holders Catalans Dragons were in imperious form as they retained their Betfred Wheelchair Challenge Cup title with an 81-18 victory over Wigan Warriors at the English Institute of Sport in Sheffield.

It was a performance that must surely see the Dragons ranked among the best sides currently playing any variation of Rugby League – and it was inspired by four-try player of the match Jeremy Bourson.

Bourson it was who opened the scoring as early as the fifth minute, acrobatically clutching Nico Claussels’ lofted cross-kick for the kind of try his Dragons’ stablemate Tom Johnstone has become renowned.

And it was Bourson who rounded off the first half scoring with his hat-trick try in the 32nd minute with yet another display of individual skill and sheer speed.

In between those tries, Clausells had chased his own seemingly innocuous kick through to steal a try from under the noses of the Warriors defence, Arno Vargas finished off a flowing move for the first of his own eye-catching hat-trick and Bourson had pounced for his second before the Warriors had even got off the mark.

Trailing 22-0, Wigan needed inspiration – and it came through skipper Dec Roberts, whose 17th minute try and conversion narrowed the gap to 16 points – a deficit that was narrowed still further when Adam Rigby found himself on the end of a superb team move just three minutes later.

But 12-22 was as good as it got for the Warriors. For a while it was all quiet in the Dragons’ den, the cup holders’ early fire temporarily dampened. There were fewer thrills and more spills, but the fire was not completely extinguished.

And with Clausells and Bourson scoring again before half-time, the trophy was already halfway to Perpignan with the Dragons 34-12 ahead.

In the second half the Dragons treated the 400-plus crowd to an exhibition worthy of the Harlem Globetrotters, with skipper and England World Cup winner Sebastien Bechara scoring the first of his hat-trick in the 41st minute – his 72nd minute hat trick try being the pick of the bunch as he showed an astonishing turn of speed to burst through the Warriors ranks.

There were further tries from Vargas, Bourson, Dore and Nico Clausells, plus a cheeky drop goal from the latter’s uncle, Gilles, with Wigan having only a late Jack Heggie consolation to show for their efforts.

“It’s great to have won it again”, said Catalans Dragons skipper Seb Bechara. “I’ve said before that winning the Challenge Cup last year meant a lot to me and the rest of the guys. We forced a few too many passes in the first half, but in the end it was a good performance. It’s great to be going home in with the cup again.”

“Wigan will be gutted”, England Head Coach Tom Coyd told BBC Sport. “But they’ll also have enjoyed coming up against these great Catalans Dragons players.

“Not everything Jeremy Bourson did turned to gold, but it was a platinum performance. His pace strikes fear into the opposition; he attracts defenders like magnets, meaning he creates space for his teammates too. He’s made a massive difference to the Dragons – as if they weren’t good enough already!”

Coyd selected a National Performance Squad earlier this week, who will gather at Wembley Stadium next Saturday to watch the other two Betfred Challenge Cup Finals – Men’s and Women’s – before training at Medway Park in Gillingham on Sunday.

This was an indication of the scale of the challenge they will again face in international fixtures against France later this year.

 

Betfred Wheelchair Challenge Cup Final

Catalans Dragons 81-18 Wigan Warriors

 

Catalans

Tries – Bourson 4, N Clausells 3, Vargas 3, Bechara 3, Dore

Goals – N Clausells 4, Bechara, G Clausells 7

Drop Goal – G Clausells

 

Wigan

Tries – D Roberts, Rigby 2

Goals – D Roberts 2, Heggie

Photo Credit: Seb Sternik

OTHER NEWS

15 minutes ago

Illinois star Marcus Domask signs deal with Bulls after NBA Draft concludes

15 minutes ago

Video: Has Jackie 'O' Henderson met her match? Radio star goes on boat ride in Mykonos with a hunky local man

15 minutes ago

Video: Katy Perry goes viral for dodging question about working with Dr. Luke on her new album despite the sexual misconduct allegations Kesha made against him

15 minutes ago

Video: Kylie Jenner and BFF Stassie Karanikolaou enjoy a feast of SIX different wings and cookies in taste test videos: 'Mukbang girls are back!'

17 minutes ago

Could CeeDee Lamb Break Calvin Johnson's NFL Records?

17 minutes ago

A Scout’s Take on the 2024 Chicago Bears Specialists

17 minutes ago

NHS weight-loss services turning away new patients due to Ozempic demand

17 minutes ago

'It's ICC's headache to...': Rohit Sharma hits back at favouritism charges, no reserve day for India's semi-final

17 minutes ago

Bronny James' Powerful Two-Word Message After Lakers Drafted Him

17 minutes ago

'Jeopardy! Fans Are Emotional Over How the Show Is Honoring Alex Trebek

18 minutes ago

Canucks defenseman wins the 2023-24 Norris Trophy

18 minutes ago

Colts Quenton Nelson Told Steelers Great TJ Watt Would Destroy Him:' He Was Mad'

18 minutes ago

Clippers push to retain Paul George, 'respect' if he opts out

18 minutes ago

Dishwasher expert on the RIGHT way to load it

18 minutes ago

Gavin Newsom shoots down the idea of replacing Biden on 2024 ticket

18 minutes ago

EU awards four innovative European AI startups, SMEs

18 minutes ago

Double blow for Sri Lanka cricket as Chris Silverwood and Mahela Jayawardene resign coaching roles

19 minutes ago

Panama 2-1 USA: Player ratings as USMNT earn zero points after battling with ten men for 72 minutes

19 minutes ago

Salaries decrease in South Africa: No relief in sight for workers

22 minutes ago

Flames ship Andrew Mangiapane to Capitals for second-round draft pick in 2025

22 minutes ago

Saskatoon’s Catton leads Saskatchewan contingent ahead of 2024 NHL Draft

24 minutes ago

Desperate Land Rover owners are now chaining their cars to TREES to stop 4x4s being stolen in lawless London

24 minutes ago

Shattering moment Anthony Albanese fights back tears as he makes a worrying admission

24 minutes ago

I was made redundant and joined OnlyFans to make money fast. I made $10K in three months but regret signing up. Here's what everyone should know

24 minutes ago

Tiny North Carolina town's fury at historic home turned into an 'eyesore' with trash piled high outside

26 minutes ago

Alleged housemate murderer to remain in custody on remand

26 minutes ago

Empowering the next generation: Youth take the wheel of their mental health

26 minutes ago

Caitlin Clark's Pregame Outfit For Fever-Storm Is Blowing Up Online

26 minutes ago

Asteroids approaching: One as big as Mount Everest, one closer than the moon

26 minutes ago

Experience Easy Luxury and Have a Rented RV delivered to a Campsite!

26 minutes ago

I’m a Self-Made Millionaire and Digital Nomad: 3 Best Places for Freelancers To Live Abroad

26 minutes ago

Small town residents protest as first migrant families arrive

26 minutes ago

Dog saved from river rock amid monsoon floods in India

26 minutes ago

Treasurer approves ANZ-Suncorp merger

26 minutes ago

28 People — Myself Included — Who Didn't Know The "Unusual" Things Their Bodies Do Are, In Fact, "Not Normal" After All

26 minutes ago

Padres News: How a Mistaken Phone Call Landed a Key Player for San Diego

26 minutes ago

Two pandas are preparing to head to San Diego Zoo from China

28 minutes ago

Watch: Bronny James learns of Lakers taking him in NBA draft, teaming up with dad LeBron James

30 minutes ago

Asia-Pacific markets rise as investors assess Japan economic data and await U.S. inflation reading

30 minutes ago

Presidential debate live updates: Biden and Trump arrive in Atlanta