Catalans Dragons overcame the early loss of Dane Carlaw and a 12-point deficit to record a 40-20 Super League win away to Warrington on Saturday.

The match was only eight minutes old when the former Brisbane Broncos back rower was flattened by a high tackle from Ben Westwood.

The Warrington player was put on report by Australian referee Jason Robinson and now faces the prospect of further punishment if the incident is referred to the Rugby Football League's disciplinary committee.

The match was held up for seven minutes when Carlaw had treatment before being carried off on a stretcher.

But Catalans coach Kevin Walters, after seeing his side record their first Super League win of the season, said Carlaw appeared to have avoided a major injury. "He's sitting up and drinking," Walters said. "Fortunately, there is no neck damage."

Having seen the French club surprisingly lose 30-8 at home to Huddersfield in their opening league match this season, Walters was delighted by the resolve they showed at Warrington.

"It's nice to get out of the blocks," he said. "We were really off the pace last week but tonight we came out with a lot better attitude.

"At 18-6 it was just about hanging in there because Warrington were playing well. Fortunately we got a few penalties and scored a try just before half-time which gave us a glimmer of hope."

Warrington coach James Lowes was furious after his side, now beaten in their first two league matches this term, three away a seemingly strong position to the extent of conceding five tries in the second-half.

"It's not good enough," said Lowes. "I thought we were dreadful and I've made that known in the dressing room.

"We were terrible. We were outmuscled and turned the ball over very cheaply and Catalans capitalised. If some of the guys continue in that vein, they won't be playing first team."

In Saturday's other Super League match Hull FC beat Celtic Crusaders 28-20 to deny the Welsh newcomers a debut home victory in the competition.

For the Crusaders this was a third straight defeat but coach John Dixon, previously the assistant boss at the Brisbane Broncos said: "We have got some footy in this team and it's about tapping into it.

"It's like comparing us to an infant who struggles to stand up and then falls down but keeps trying to stand up.

"If we got that win today, then we would have convinced everybody we have a footy team here."

Victory made it two wins out of two for Hull and left them in second place behind reigning champions Leeds, who've played a game more ahead of facing Australian NRL title-holders Manly in the World Club Challenge

"We are really happy," said Hull coach Richard Agar. "We really struggled to grind some yards out early and get some decent field condition. The second 20 minutes of the first-half, though, we posed significant threats."

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