York secured a convincing 38-14 triumph over fellow relegation‑battle opponents Toulouse at the LNER Community Stadium, thanks largely to a spectacular hat‑trick from Scott Galeano. The win marked York's third Betfred Super League success of the season and snapped a five‑match losing streak that had spanned all competitions.
The Knights opened the scoring early when Paul Vaughan, who was celebrating his 35th birthday on the day, powered his way over the try line beneath the posts. Vaughan’s effort gave the home side an immediate boost, although a subsequent try in the corner was disallowed because the ball had not been properly grounded. Undeterred, York pressed on and Vaughan crossed again shortly after, this time converted by kicker Cody Hunter, pushing the scoreboard to 12-0 within the first twenty minutes.
Toulouse responded after about thirty minutes when Thomas Lacans displayed some quick footwork, cutting back inside to touch down and narrow the gap. However, the Australian winger Scott Galeano answered swiftly, diving into the right corner to extend York's lead to 18-6 at the halftime break.
The second half saw York continue to dominate. In the 55th minute, Jesse Dee chased a high kick, was forced into the advertising boards, and managed to hook the ball back, setting up an easy grounding for Galeano, who added his second try of the night.
Kieran Buchanan then contributed another try, cementing York's control of the contest. Cody Hunter added a penalty goal soon after, taking the tally to 32-6 just after the hour mark. Toulouse, who had been bottom of the league table on points difference behind York, managed to claw a second try in the 66th minute. Henry O'Kane displayed impressive power, grounding the ball despite being held up by a pair of York defenders, giving the French side a brief spark of hope.
York finished the match strongly. With eight minutes remaining, Galeano completed his hat‑trick, sealing his personal achievement and further extending the lead. Toulouse added a late consolation try when Mathieu Jussaume burst through the defensive line, but the French outfit suffered their seventh league defeat of the campaign.
Elsewhere on Thursday night, the Leigh Leopards also enjoyed a successful evening. Josh Charnley, celebrating his 400th appearance, scored two second‑half tries to help Leigh beat the Huddersfield Giants 30-16.
Charnley's double raised his Super League try total to 263, putting him just five tries shy of Ryan Hall's all‑time record. AJ Towse contributed two tries of his own, while Innes Senior added another and Lachlan Lam earned a penalty try, rounding out a prolific attacking display for Leigh. Huddersfield's points came from tries by Adam Swift, Taane Milne and Jacob Gagai, but it was not enough to stave off defeat.
The Giants remain joint‑bottom of the table, level with Toulouse on four points, while Leigh's victory lifted them to eighth place. The latest Super League table reflects York's upward movement after the win, moving them clear of the bottom‑placed Toulouse. The Knights' improved form, highlighted by Galeano's three‑try performance, suggests they could be pulling away from the relegation zone if they maintain this momentum.
For fans looking to follow the competition, Sky Sports continues to broadcast every Super League match live throughout the season, offering two exclusive live fixtures each round and covering the remaining five games each week. Additional content, including the Bench podcast with Jenna and Jon and customizable sports notifications, is available for those who want deeper engagement with the league. Overall, Thursday's fixtures provided a mix of individual brilliance and team resurgence.
Galeano's hat‑trick will be remembered as a key factor in York's revival, while Charnley's milestone performance underscored Leigh's attacking potency. Both clubs will look to build on these results as the season progresses, aiming to secure higher positions in the league and avoid the looming threat of relegation.