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Matthew Shaw

Catalans Dragons supporters launch drinks and objects at James Child after controversial play-off defeat

James Child and the match officials had objects thrown in their direction after Catalans Dragons' hot-headed play-off defeat to Leeds Rhinos. The French side were knocked out of the finals after falling to a 20-10 defeat in a game that saw the Dragons receive three sin bins and a red card.

Mitchell Pearce was yellow carded twice, Micky McIlorum given ten minutes for a high tackle while Gil Dudson was sent off for leading with the head in the closing stages of the game.

Stade Gilbert Brutus had been a hostile environment throughout the evening, with the French supporters growing increasingly frustrated with decisions as they went against their side. But that all spilt over at the end as Child and the rest of the officials made their way to the tunnel. Drinks and other objects were launched in their direction to end a controversial night on a sour note.

Read more: Leeds Rhinos player ratings after sensational display to defeat Catalans Dragons

The Dragons could end up in hot water for the incident, which was an unsavoury end to the Dragons' season. The game was bad-blooded from the start, with several flashpoints during the course of the contest.

Leeds coach Rohan Smith expressed his unease after watching the incident while on the pitch, with the Leeds players also having things aimed at them.

"It was a good, tough contest, playing a sudden-death game. I thought the referee adjudicated things strongly, there were a couple of 50-50 calls, a couple went both ways, and despite the roar of the crowd he refereed as he intended to which was great to see but disappointing to see him get things thrown at him, and our players to be treated like that is disappointing, but no harm done."

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