McNamara interview

 I have remained critical of the gaffer over the years, mainly due to how we play. 

But this open and reflective interview is something else.

Chapeau.

Steve McNamara on how we beat the Saints in 2018 semi final...

Domestic side win the league

St Estève XIII Catalan  (4) 32

T  : Ben Pomeroy, Paul Seguier, Arthur Mourgue, Ugo Perez, Alexis Meresta-Doucet
G  : Robin Brochon 6

Carcassonne  (22) 24

T  : Vincent Albert, Luc Franco, Alexis Escamilla
G  : Alexis Alberola 4

Despite leaving the club (for a 2nd time) to return home to Australia, Ben Pomeroy got the Catalans up and running in this pulsating final.

He played his part along with a number of other first team peripheral figures in this win that secured the first domestic title since 2005.

After the farce of player ineligibility last year this will be a relief for those in the corridors of power at the Stade Gilbert Brutus.

Well done to all connected.

Domestic side make Grand Final

St Estève XIII Catalan (20) 38

T : Romano 2, Brochon 2, Pomeroy, Franco 2
G : Guasch 5

Lézignan (12) 18

T : Tribillac, Bousquet, Miloudi
G : Cardace 3

In a period where good news has been hard to find, the French league side made the grand final by beating long time foes Lezignan. 

Yay!!

Juniors lose final late on.

Ok, so the Catalans lost, but we are open minded enough to recognise a good match when we see one and would advise you to enjoy the highlights of this one.

Women lose final

Not the result we wanted but its been a decent season for the Goddesses and we look forward to supporting them going forward.

Reserves lose final

St Estève XIII Catalan (6) 6

T : Hugo Salabio
G : Joan Guasch

Carcassonne (10) 22

T : Bastien Escamilla, Garry Lo, Clément Soubeyras, Tony Tumusa
G : Alexis Alberola 3

Women make the grand final

St Estève XIII Catalan (4) 18

T: Rakei, Bessalhi, Bussière, Musch
G: Akpa

Lyon (8) 14

T: Lecocq, 1 penalty try
G: Sekmakdji 3

It was tight at the end, but the Goddesses made it to the French league final over the weekend.

The final is against Toulouse at Stade Gilbert Brutus at the weekend.

Domestic joy as reserves get a win

St Estève XIII Catalan (12) 34

T : Bartès, Ambert, Bled, Martin, R. Franco 2
G : J. Guasch 5

Villeneuve (10) 22

T : Ugaia, Nikolic 2, Godinet
G : Godinet 3

After a tight first half, St Esteve got away in the second half to keep their place at the top of the table.

Domestic side back on track with St Gaudens win

Its been a topsy turvy few weeks for the Dragons reserve side. Before Easter they looked nailed on for the leaders shield and a play off place, but such is the squished up nature of the Elite 1 table a couple of poor results left them down the table.

Things have picked up of late and despite being a game ahead of second placed Lezignan and third placed Avignon a semi final derby against Olivier Elima and Palau Broncos looks a real possibility now.

With Toulon the scheduled last opponent being expunged that is the end of our regular season.

St Gaudens (16) 26

T : Anger, N. Wall, B. Wall, Lucas, Dumas
G : Lucas 3

St Estève XIII Catalan (16) 28

T : Le Cam 2, Zafra, S. Bled, Brochon
G : Mourgue 4

Congratulations to Elite 1 young player of the year Roman Franco whose progress we have closely followed this campaign.

Jodie Broughton makes his return in Domestic league win

Wing wizard Jodie Broughton started his latest comeback from injury and bagged a two try haul as Catalans won comfortably against Avignon over the weekend.

St Estève XIII Catalan  (38)  56

T:  Jobe, Meresta-Doucet, Broughton 2, Bled, Vailhen, Barthes, Zafra, Franco, Cozza
G:  Guasch 8

Avignon  (6)  22

T:  Domic, Melhout, O. Arnaud, F. Jullien
G:  O. Arnaud 3

Fingers crossed this is the start of a good spell of health for Jodie and he can play his part in the remainder of the Super League season.

Toulouse beaten in try fest

The Catalans maintain their third place in the table with this win over bottom side TOxii.

St Estève XIII Catalan  (16)  38

T  : R. Franco, Martin 2, Ambert 2, Mourgue, Belmas
G  : J. Guasch 5

Toulouse  (14)  30

T  : Sangaré 2, Jocelyn 3
G  : J. Bouscayrol 3, Fourquet

 It was closer than expected, but Catalans got home against TOxii in this one.

Line-ups

St Estève XIII Catalan : Brochon, Martin, Square, Ambert, R. Franco, J. Guasch, Mourgue, Belmas, Meresta-Doucet, Salabio, Cam, Séguier, S. Bled
Subs: Zafra, Vailhen, B. Tougé, Cozza

Toulouse : Bianchini, Jocelyn, Fourquet, Mircovich, Delage, Thérond, Pallares, Wilshere, J. Bouscayrol, Brau, Lima, Chatras, Sangaré
Subs: Fauré, N. Reynaud, Pezet, Tranier

Ladies maintain the pace at the top of the table

St Estève XIII Catalan (14) 20

T : Ramos 2, Akpa, J. D’Angelo
G : Coll 2

Lescure (6) 10

2 tries & 1 goal

Line-up

P. Richard, Guisset, Dagues, J. D’Angelo, S. Chan, Coll, Pastor, Bousquié, Ramos, Rakeï

Subs: Sebastiao, Canal, Candido, Llandry.

 The Ladies kept their healthy cushion at the top of the division with a home win over Lescure.

Tough run continues in domestic league

That long winning run seems a long time ago now as a second consecutive defeat (including last week at le weekend magique) sees the Catalans slip down to third.

Carcassonne now lead Elite 1 with Lezignan jumping over us into second after winning this one.

Lézignan (8) 36

T : Tort, Lacans, Li. Albert, A. Miloudi 2, Stacul
G : T Bouzinac 3, Tribillac 3

St Estève XIII Catalan (0) 10

T : Mourgue, Carré
G : Guasch 1

Domestic side progress in cup

Carpentras (8) 14

T : Delic, Bida , L. Comtat

G : Bravo

St Estève XIII Catalan (22) 50

T : Brochon 2, Pomeroy, Mourgue, Séguier, Martin 2, Vailhen, Bartès

G : J. Guasch 7

Some respite from the Super league teams start to the season came in the Coupe de France with another successful road win in the quarter final. 

Xiii Catalans run ended

St Estève XIII Catalan (10) 12

T : Thomas Ambert, Louis Carré
G : Joan Guasch 2

Carcassonne (8) 36

T : Nabil Djalout, V. Albert 2, Lo, A. Sabri, J. Anderson
G : Alexis Albérola 5

Carcassonne closed to within a point of the Catalans at the top of Elite 1 over the weekend with a come from behind second half victory.

Highlights are below...

Derby goes against Elima UPDATED

Palau (20) 24

T : Jimenez, Nietche, Bernard, Gambaro, Sigismeau
G : Herrero 2

St Estève XIII Catalan (10) 32

T : Séguier, Martin, Mourgue, Franco 3
G : Guasch 4

Romain Franco is bag and bagged a hat-trick as Catalans won this derby match with Palau Broncos.

The finisher added to his tally and remains at the head of the try scorers in Elite 1. St Esteve needed all 80 minutes to beat Olivier Elima's improving side and the home team will be a little bit disappointed not to get the win. 

A ding dong battle on a chilly afternoon shows both sides are in form and bodes well for the rest of the season. 

Domestic side progress in the cup

St Gaudens (12) 30

T : Chanet, Telai, Moliner, Wall 2
G : Lucas 3

St Estève XIII Catalan (22) 46

T : L. Albert 4, Brochon, Martin, Ambert 2, Margalet
G : J. Guasch 5

Domestic bliss as Catalans hammer Limoux.

St Estève XIII Catalan (20) 52

T : Boudebza 2, Drouard, Gorka, Huescar, J. Chan, Munuera, Nunez, Baby 2
G : Baby 6

Limoux (12) 12

2 tries, 2 goals

More to follow...

7th win on the spin in the domestic league (UPDATED)

Albi (6) 18

T : Spina, Ballinger, Tailhades
G : Fabre 3

St Estève XIII Catalan (14) 42

T : Laguerre, Belmas, J. Flovie 2, Albert, Mourgue , Pomeroy 2
G : J. Guasch, Albert  4

A Ben Pomeroy double put the icing on the cake as the league leading Catalans march on in Elite 1.

A sad sub plot to this match was a further injury to Jodie Broughton who will now be out of action long term once again.