Jean-Philippe Baile scored a hat-trick as Catalans Dragons beat Hull KR at Stade Gilbert Brutus.

The Dragons led 18-6 at the break and withheld a second-half fightback from the visitors before finally securing the points.

Baile scored his first try in the ninth minute following a great break from Clint Greenshields. The full-back's break exposed frailties in Rovers' defence and they were stretched too far when Baile grounded the ball.

Baile celebrated his second try six minutes later when Chev Walker went walkabout leaving him free to ground Thomas Bosc's free kick.

Bosc was instrumental throughout the game and the Dragons could thank him for his all-round play. Twice he kicked 40/20 to further frustrate the visitors.

Paul Cooke's superbly delayed pass to Walker enabled Ben Cockayne to score to make it 12-4 after 24 minutes. A week after criticism from fans for not taking two points on offer, Justin Morgan sent the message for Dobson to kick for goal when Remi Casty was caught offside.

On the stroke of half-time Jason Croker rolled back the years with a diving effort to ground Bosc's kick.

Morgan held his half-time team talk on the pitch similar to Hull City manager Phil Brown when his side were 4-0 down at Manchester City.

It did not help City that day and it failed to work for Rovers.

Daniel Fitzhenry set up a tense finale when he scored for the second week running but it was too little too late.

The try was only awarded after the video referee, who had already ruled out a Peter Fox try, judged the hooker dropped the ball backwards before scoring but the Dragons were keen to make sure Rovers did not make it three wins on the trot on their own patch.

Bosc's drop goal settled matters in the 77th minute. Just as the Dragons did in the first half, they scored at the end of the second when Baile squeezed his way over in the corner for his hat-trick.

Bosc, the man of the match, missed the conversion but he was instrumental in the Dragons' 23-12 win.