Wakefield Wildcats are the early leaders in the Engage Super League after they beat Catalans Dragons 28-20 at Belle Vue yesterday to claim their second victory of the embryonic season. There was a record aggregate 78,090 attendance for the first full round of fixtures.

Dale Morton, a 19-year-old product of the club’s academy, scored two tries in the second half as Wakefield overturned a 16-10 deficit. Glenn Morrison also added to earlier scores by Dale Ferguson and Luke George.

Their French opponents twice had led after tries by Dimitri Pelo, Olivier Elima and Sebastian Martins.

Catalans badly missed Thomas Bosc, their injured playmaker, while Clint Greenshields, the club’s influential full back, withdrew late through illness. “I don’t care who dropped out or was unavailable. They had 17 good players,” John Kear, the Wakefield coach, said. “It’s a good win but there are areas to improve on.”

Two tries by Peter Fox, the England wing, and a 16-point contribution by Michael Dobson, the scrum half, helped Hull Kingston Rovers to get off to a winning start in a 30-12 home defeat of Salford City Reds.

Justin Morgan, the Rovers coach, was more impressed with his side’s defensive display and by the switch of Paul Cooke to loose forward and Jake Webster to stand-off. “It worked really well but, like any new combination, it is going to take some time for them to find their feet. But with the number of times they challenged the line, it is something we will continue to persevere with,” he said.

Sean Long’s man-of-the-match performance in Hull’s impressive 32-12 victory against St Helens at Knowsley Road on Saturday contrasted with his former club’s injuries to James Graham (sternum), Ade Gardner (ribs) and Sia Soliola (ankle).