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Leigh (6) 16

Tries: Niu 2, Senior Goals: Cook 2

Catalans (6) 22

Tries: Wilson, Staines, Dodd Goals: Sexton 5

Catalans Dragons returned to winning methods following back-to-back Super League beats with a narrow victory at Leigh Leopards.

Tries from Harvey Wilson, Charlie Staines and Lewis Dodd breathed new fire into the Dragons following disappointing defeats by St Helens and Bradford Bulls in their previous 2 matches.

Tesi Niu scored 2 fantastic tries for Leigh, either side of winger Innes Senior's score, but it proved to be fruitless for the hosts.

Leigh have actually now lost 3 Super League matches in a row and will require to see an enhancement in efficiencies if they are to be in the play-off shake-up once again this year.

The visitors' preparation for the match was struck when a mechanical fault on their aircraft from Perpignan forced them to make an emergency landing in Bordeaux, implying their journey to Greater Manchester took 16 hours to complete.

And they were dealt a more blow before kick-off when winger Tommy Makinson got an injury in the warm-up and had actually to be changed in the beginning line-up by Leo Darrelatour.

In the eighth minute, Leigh took benefit when excellent hands from Lachlan Lam enabled stand-in full-back Gareth O'Brien to discover Senior, who raced clear before setting up Niu to slide in for an outstanding group shot. Adam Cook included the extras superbly from the touchline.

Lam was then adjudged to have actually obstructed off Nick Cotric's efforts to challenge for a high ball, and after Catalans were granted another set of 6 deep in Leigh area, Wilson went over determinedly for his first Super League try of the season under the sticks.

Catalans then went near taking the lead before the break however Darrelatour was pressed into touch when trying to score in the left corner.

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Moments after the reboot, Toby Sexton kicked Catalans into a small benefit in front of the sticks after Liam Horne was discovered guilty of a ball steal.

A stunning offload from Wigan Warriors loanee Kruise Leeming - among 11 brand-new signings from last season in Catalans' matchday team - allowed Sexton to charge forward before he found Staines, who ended up an extraordinary relocation from close quarters.

Catalans' two-score lead lasted less than five minutes though as O'Brien discovered Niu and he passed to winger Senior, who dived over in the left corner unopposed.

A no-look pass from Lam then went loose and was attacked upon by Darrelatour. He raced 80 yards and smartly recycled the ball before Sexton found fellow half-back Dodd for a vital third shot for the away side.

With 15 minutes left, Niu managed the minute of the match, selecting the ball up deep in his own half, skipping a challenge from Cotric, before tricking Staines with outstanding footwork to dive over for a fantastic individual rating.

In the passing away minutes, Leigh stacked on the pressure in their mission to discover a winning rating, but excellent protecting from the Dragons offed their efforts, and the visitors put the seal on the win through Sexton's fifth effective kick soon before the hooter sounded.

'We lacked club's DNA' - response

"Frustrating again tonight. We had a lot of opportunities once again to win that video game however it simply felt like it was never ever really in our favour the entire time.

"There were turning points like the intercept attempt. [If] we nail the skill there, we score the try and we most likely win the video game - that was most likely the most frustrating part.

"It's [been] a hard night. There was plenty of effort but we lacked the game-sense. It's hard to see at times and we're having a hard time to create 2 to 3 sets of attacks.

"We just had 19 [players] to pick from but that's not a reason. We did not have the DNA of us as a club.

"We couldn't score points when we needed them most which's what we did actually well last year so we're a long way behind our best at the minute".

Catalans Dragons head coach Joel Tomkins told Sky Sports:

"I'm actually, actually happy with the young boys. They had a bit of a headache journey yesterday. The scramble, the desire and simply the work for each other, they never ever offered in, and I thought we got what we deserved tonight.

"We have actually got a couple of injuries at the minute, but what we have got is a group of lads who want to work hard.

"We may not be the most knowledgeable group, however they're going to can be found in and they're going to work hard for each other. On the back of that, they'll get outcomes.

"In the week, we had some truthful conversations, and it's going to be a long season for us if we end up performances like we did last week. If we turn out performances like we did tonight, then it'll be an actually satisfying one."

[On his side's journey to Leigh:] "Obviously, its not best preparation however we never ever have ideal preparation - we balance eight to 10 hours [of] travel [for away fixtures]

"That becomes part of betting Catalans. It's a special group to be a part of - living in the south of France and playing in the English Super League.

"We don't whinge about it, we utilize it as a connection piece for the group. We may do some linking flights for a couple of more away games if we show up like that."

Leigh: O'Brien; Senior, Niu, Brand, Charnley; Cook, Lam; Trout, McNamara, Mulhern, Halton, Alick-Wiencke, Liu.

Interchanges: Hughes, Brown, Badrock, Horne.

Catalans: Staines; Darrelatour, Cotric, Faataape, Laulu-Togaga'e; Sexton, Dodd; Allen, Da Costa, Navarrete, Laguerre, Lipowicz, Wilson.

Interchanges: Satae, Condon, Leeming, Chan.