Sébastien Raguin, one of eight Catalans players in the France team trounced by England 56-8 in Toulouse on Friday, scored one try and created three more in a redemptive tour de force as the Dragons prevailed at Belle Vue for the first time in their three-year history last night to cement third place in the engage Super League, a point behind St Helens.

Wakefield began like an express team in pursuit of fourth place in the table, but descended into a stream of errors, victims of their off-the-cuff style that too often backfired. Catalans were clinical in coming from 14-10 down at half-time and keeping the Wildcats scoreless in recording a fifth successive league victory — they have lost only once in the league since March.

Formidable in Perpignan, they are now a force to be reckoned on their travels after chalking up a sixth away win. Leeds and St Helens may be top dogs, but Catalans continue to snap at their heels. A home draw in the play-offs is now the least of their ambitions.

Raguin was the catalyst for another highly impressive victory againt in-form opponents. Twice he delicately directed grubber kicks through the Wakefield defence for Younès Khattabi to grab tries on the left wing.

Wakefield produced some sparkling rugby in the early stages and were rewarded with a pair of superbly worked touchdowns.Catalans needed last-ditch tackles by Alex Chan and Clint Greenshields to keep their line intact, but they could do little to prevent Sean Gleeson, the wing, opening the scoring on eight minutes after taking Brad Drew’s floated pass.Damien Blanch scored the second after Duncan MacGillivray slipped the ball out of the tackle to release Ryan Atkins.

The French side illustrated their danger when Raguin sliced through the home defence after pouncing on a loose ball, and the supporting Casey McGuire brushed off the attempted tackle of Blanch to touch down.

Wakefield had to do without Jason Demetriou, their captain, for most of the second half after he suffered and ankle injury — and the Dragons took full toll. Raguin, a second rower transformed into a threequarter, proved unstoppable after taking Bosc’s pass ten metres from the line to level the scores on 42 minutes — and, when Blanch dropped the ball over the line on 57 minutes, it proved to be a turning point.

Khattabi reached another Raguin kick to claim his second try and McGuire pounced for his second on 62 minutes after Matt Blaymire failed to drop on a kick from Bosc.