Catalans Dragons ended their engage Super League drought and denied Welsh outfit Celtic Crusaders a home victory on Saturday night.

The Crusaders had recorded their first league win of the season over Bradford Bulls in Yorkshire last Sunday but the Dragons had their own reasons to get victory in Wales.

The French outfit lost the three Super League matches leading into their latest fixture and needed to win to get them back on course and climb above 12th-placed Bulls.

And, at half-time, they were closing in on completing the job as they lead 22-6 to dominate the opening 40 minutes.

The Crusaders went ahead after six minutes when centre Josh Hannay finished off a tap penalty under the Catalans' posts taken by hooker Lincoln Withers.

The expectations of a decent home crowd for back-to-back wins after months of waiting for a home success rose but they were soon brought down with a large bump.

Catalans had the Crusaders in all sorts of problems, as second row Cyrille Gossard put in a tremendous performance in support of his front-line men.

Seconds after the home converted try, stand-off Greg Bird dived over from a quick move near the Crusaders' posts and a conversion from scrum-half Thomas Bosc levelled matters.

Three times the video referee was called into action to decide on Catalans' tries.

He said no to Clint Greenshields and Jerome Guisset but, after Olivier Elima had put the Frenchmen in front for the first time, centre Adam Mogg's touchdown, when he chased a kick into the home goal area, was awarded.

It was deserved too as the Dragons were in charge for the first half hour.

The Crusaders finally found a bit of fight but replacement David Tangata Toa missed a try near the end of the period.

But Catalans put themselves 22-6 in front and the Crusaders in trouble on the interval whistle when replacement Shane Perry was put in by Bosc for the scrum-half to add his third conversion.

Home coach John Dixon must have had a few sharp words with his side at the break because they came out with guns blazing, leading to a try from loose forward Jason Chan which Hannay converted to take them to within 10 points.

The game was held up for five minutes after a heavy fall by Catalans' Julien Touxagas saw him stretchered off with a back injury.

More discipline from the Crusaders got them right back in the match.

Just before the hour, a cross-kick by Jace Van Dijk inside the Catalans 25, which was caught by Luke Dyer, set Jordan James over for a third try and a Hannay conversion put them just four points behind.

They nearly levelled when Mark Bryant went over the line but dropped the ball in the act of scoring.

But Catalans gained the edge again and the comeback from the Welshmen failed.

Steven Bell ran in a try on the left wing after sustained pressure with 12 minutes to go, leaving the Crusaders needing two scores to win.

They never looked likely to get them as they ran out of steam, leaving wing Cyril Stacul to add a final Catalans touchdown with a 50-metre run to the corner right on the final hooter.