SAINTS fell to a late and bitterly frustrating defeat in Catalans despite four cracking tries from flying flankman Adam Swift.

The game was locked at 26 apiece going into the last 10 minutes, but a late converted try from the unstoppable wide-running second row Zeb Taia and a Scott Dureau drop goal sealed it for the home side.

Although Saints were left scratching their heads at the penalty that led to the match-losing try they were nevertheless the architects of their own downfall with some poor game management at key spells of the clash.

In baking hot conditions the last thing Saints wanted to be doing was defending back-to-back sets on their own line – but that is what they ended up doing for large chunks of the opening quarter.

Alas, after starting so well, with a wonderfully executed move that saw Australian triumverate Luke Walsh, Travis Burns and then finally Shannon McDonnell combine, with the latter’s floated pass sending Swift over in the corner, Saints handed the initiative back to the Dragons.

A long period of pressure – one that Saints frustratingly failed to relieve by failing to find touch with a penalty – eventually took its toll.

But that period of energy-sapping defence bit them twofold.

Not only did it allow the Dragons to cross the try line twice – through Benjamin Garcia and the immense Taia – but it also drained the Saints tank of juice which clearly took its toll later on in the game when a lack of energy and application contributed to some soft tackling.

It looked like Saints had got away with it at first, and every time they moved the ball to the flanks they hit the jackpot.

And what a try to start the ball rolling with Burns bouncing off a couple of tacklers before Walsh and Wilkin unleashed the outstanding Jordan Turner who somehow managed to offload in the tackle and send Swift away.

Swift used his deceptive strength to bump off the French full back Morgan Escare to register his second and his hat-trick, again courtesy of a Turner pass soon followed.

Alas, Turner left the field shortly afterwards – but it looked like Saints would cope with a training ground midfield set-piece sending McDonnell over for another.

Unfortunately a soft try just before the break, scored by Garcia, cut the Saints lead to just two points.

Escare skinned McDonnell for the first score of the second half and then a Dureau penalty nudged it up to 26-20.

But nine minutes from time Swift levelled it with his fourth after fine centre play from Josh Jones.

But a sloppy ending from Saints allowed the Dragons, who are a different side on their home patch, to grab the spoils with Taia’s second four minutes from the end.