Lipowicz double as Catalans pile misery on Hull KR
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Catalans (14) 26
Tries: Lipowicz 2, Navarrete, Marc Goals: Sexton 5
Hull KR (6) 20
Tries: May, Burgess, Amone Goals: Lewis 4
Reigning Super League champions Hull Kingston Rovers suffered a third defeat in their opening four games as Catalans Dragons earned a remarkable 26-20 victory in Perpignan.
The Robins swept all before them last season, taking all three domestic trophies before beating Brisbane Broncos to become world champions last month, but the French side were exceptional as two tries from Zac Lipowicz and one by Romain Navarrete had them 20-6 ahead at the 60-minute mark.
It seemed like Rovers, despite an unconvincing display, were hauling their way back towards victory as tries from Joe Burgess and Tom Amone and Mikey Lewis' penalty levelled the scores.
In a dramatic finale, Catalans went up the other end and 19-year-old Lenny Marc raced over for a winning try which boosts them up to seventh place.
It seemed like Rovers were finding their feet after losing their two opening games of the league season to York Knights and Leeds Rhinos, as they beat Huddersfield Giants in both their league fixture and last week's Challenge Cup meeting.
That proved to be a false dawn, however, as they showed defensive weaknesses, poor discipline at key moments and a lack of the flair which swept all before them last season.
Catalans, who have a habit of blowing hot and cold, were superb even though they lost three forwards to injury, forcing the use of their 18th man Harvey Wilson, and then saw influential scrum-half Lewis Dodd limp off.
Rovers had begun well enough as May, in his 100th Super League appearance and playing against his former club, bounced off a tackle and stepped over the line.
But Catalans established dominance and deservedly levelled when Dodd broke and Lipowicz stretched out to touch down after being tackled short of the line.
The Dragons lost excellent prop Josh Allen and his replacement Julian Bousquet to head injuries and then Matthieu Laguerre to an ankle problem in quick succession but it did not interrupt their flow as Sexton's penalty and his conversion of a second try for Lipowicz had them 14-6 up at half time.
The home side even rode the loss of Dodd to extend their lead through Navarrete, but as their over-worked forwards tired the Robins began to get on top.
Oliver GIldart freed Burgess to race away for his 150th Super League try, Amone touched down May's grubber and Mikey Lewis slotted a penalty to square it up and a KR comeback win looked inevitable.
When Jack Broadbent raced down the middle, it seemed to be the winning moment but he unwisely tried to offload, Dragons regained possession and when they launched one last attack teenager Marc sparked mass celebrations by racing clear of the Robins defence to score.
Catalans: Staines; Cotric, Laulu-Togagae, Faatape, Marc; Sexton, Dodd; Allen, Da Costa, Navarrete, Lipowicz, Laguerre, Garcia.
Interchanges: Satae, Bousquet, Leeming, Chan, Wilson (18th man).
Hull KR: Broadbent; Davies, Hiku, Gildart, Burgess; Lewis, May; Sue, Litten, Hadley, Whitehead, Batchelor, Minchella.
Interchanges: Amone, Luckley, Whitbread, Leyland.
Referee: Jack Smith.