Maguire try steals win to keep Dragons’ hopes alive

Salford 16 Catalan Dragons 18

A last-minute try from Casey Maguire kept the Catalans' play-off hopes alive, despite looking for long periods as though they could not wait for the season to end.

The French side waited until they were 14 points down before finding any enthusiasm – and then did just enough to sustain their top eight chances

Salford went ahead after nine minutes, Craig Stapleton scoring the sort of try prop forwards dream about by bouncing out of a series of tackles. Then it was time for the City Reds' other young half-back, Stefan Ratchford, to show his qualities. He began an attack by stealing the ball from Dimitri Pelo and brought it to fruition with a precise kick to John Wilshere on the left wing, tagging on a second conversion to underline his value.

Ratchford edged his side further ahead with a penalty early in the second half, but the French side suddenly began to stir when Casey Maguire's kick sat up obligingly for Olivier Elima to score after 55 minutes. They looked a different proposition entirely by the time a sweeping move ended with Dane Carlaw touching down seven minutes later.

The Dragons piled on the pressure and, seven minutes from time, Adam Mogg took Maguire's pass to go over and level the scores. Gregory Mounis could not land the goal, but, when David Ferriol went high on Ray Cashmere, Ratchford could. That left the Dragons with one last throw of the dice, with Maguire getting over with seconds left to preserve their play-off hopes.

Salford: Fitzpatrick; Wilshere, Henry, Littler, McGilvray; Ratchford, Smith; Cashmere, Alker, Stapleton, Sibbit, Adamson, Swain.

Substitutes used: Leuluai, Sidlow, Nash, Paul.

Catalans Dragons: Bosc; Stacul, Baile, Croker, Pelo; Mogg, Maguire; Ryles, Bentley, Guisset, Gossard, Carlaw, Fakir.

Substitutes used: Mounis, Ferriol, Elima, Casty.

Referee: P Bentham (Warrington).