DRAGONS TAKE A GIANT STEP ... RL HUDDERSFIELD 6 CATALANS 16.

Byline: TREVOR BAXTER

'POCKET Rocket' Dimitri Pelo walked tall in the land of the Giants at the Galpharm Stadium last night.

Dinky 'Dimmy' scored his third try of the play-offs as Kevin Walters' Dragons destroyed Huddersfield's Grand Final ambitions.

The Perpignan outfit join Leeds and St Helens in the last four with the final place decided tonight when Hull KR entertain Wigan.

Only Bradford Bulls ever won the title from outside the top two under the old six-team play-off format; Catalans are trying to reach Old Trafford on October 10 from eighth.

But after a third successive road win they find themselves only 80 minutes away from the 'Theatre of Dreams.'

Challenge Cup runners-up Huddersfield led 6-4 until winger Pelo cracked open the contest. Thomas Bosc booted a brilliant touchline conversion and was on target again when Olivier Elima rounded off a brilliant six-man move to seal the game with seven minutes left.

The four previous play-off games may have lacked intensity, but this raw and often brutal contest more than made up for what had gone before.

It's a pity more Giants fans didn't join England coach Tony Smith and St Helens boss Mick Potter in a sparse crowd. Only 4,263 turned up, more than 1,000 less than the previous lowest this season, also against Dragons. The skill level wasn't high but there was no doubting the passion as witnessed by several second- half flare-ups.

For much of the game there were more penalties than points. However, Catalans finally added some Gallic flair to their muscular approach and finished worthy winners.

Huddersfield finished eight points clear of Catalans during the regular season but went into the game having lost four of their previous six.

Shaun Lunt's withdrawal due to a virus forced coach Nathan Brown into an unwanted late re-shuffle. And just 75 seconds into this bruising battle the Giants were forced into another tactical re-think. Centre Jamahl Lolesi crumpled in a heap after his attempted tackle on colossus Elima went horribly wrong.

The 'Hammer' lay motionless for nearly four minutes before medical staff revived him sufficiently to support his groggy walk back to the dressing rooms. Indeed, this was a collision between two of Super League's biggest and meanest packs.

The Dragons incurred the wrath of referee Steve Ganson conceding four successive penalties, three for high tackles. But the St Helens official was consistent, sharing out 10 penalties in the opening 20 minutes. From the 11th, Catalans gained a lead against the run of play.

French international hopeful Adam Mogg worked the ball out right and full back Clint Greenshields stamped some class on proceedings by squeezing over in the corner.

Catalans held their lead until five minutes before the break.

Scrum half Luke Robinson, keen to atone for a disappointing Wembley display, spotted a gap in the Dragons' rearguard and touched down under the posts.

Greenshields thought he'd scored again moment later. However, play was brought back 60 metres because of a block on Brett Hodgson and Giants held a slender 6-4 halftime advantage.

CAPTION(S):

LUKE'S GOOD Luke Robinson scores Huddersfield's try DRAGON FIRE Huddersfield's Darrell Griffin is tackled by Sebastian Raguin