Catalans upset the odds

Catalans Dragons have pulled off one of the biggest shocks in club rugby league to become the first French team to reach the Carnegie Challenge Cup final.

The Perpignan side will meet holders St Helens at the new Wembley on August 25 after holding off a tremendous fightback by Wigan in an epic semi-final at Warrington.

The Warriors were in danger of being routed when they trailed 31-6 after 53 minutes but they took full advantage of the sin-binning of Catalans' inspirational captain Stacey Jones to launch a sensational comeback.

Three quickfire tries, including a 90-yard effort from Mark Calderwood, briefly gave Wigan hope but Jones had the last laugh, setting up the match-clinching try for Jason Croker within seconds of his return.

Jones more than made up for the absence of leading scorer Thomas Bosc with six goals from seven attempts, while 19-year-old Vincent Duport took his place on the wing and responded with two of his side's six tries.

The result will provide a tremendous fillip for rugby league in France but represents another shattering blow to Wigan, whose four-point deduction for a salary-cap breach effectively scuppered their Grand Final hopes earlier in the week.

© Independent Television News Limited 2007. All rights reserved.

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