York secured a convincing 38-14 victory over fellow relegation‑battlers Toulouse at the LNER Community Stadium, thanks in large part to a spectacular hat‑trick from Scott Galeano. The win marked York's third triumph of the Betfred Super League season and snapped a five‑match losing streak that had plagued the Knights across all competitions. The match got off to a lively start when York's Paul Vaughan, who was celebrating his 35th birthday, powered his way over the try line under the posts within the opening minutes. Although a subsequent effort in the corner was disallowed because the ball failed to touch the ground, Vaughan soon made amends, crossing again shortly afterwards.
His second try was successfully converted by Cody Hunter, giving the home side a 12-0 lead after just twenty minutes of play. Toulouse attempted to respond, and around the half‑hour mark Thomas Lacans displayed some impressive footwork, cutting back inside to score the visitors' first points.
However, the momentum quickly swung back to York when Australian winger Scott Galeano dived into the right corner, extending the lead to 18-6 at the break. The second half saw York continue to dominate. At the 55‑minute mark Jesse Dee chased a high kick, was driven into the advertising boards, and managed to hook the ball back, setting up an easy grounding for Galeano. The winger seized the opportunity, adding another try to his tally.
Kieran Buchanan then added a further score, solidifying York's control of the contest. Cody Hunter added a penalty goal shortly after the hour mark, pushing the scoreboard to 32-6.
Toulouse, who had been sitting at the bottom of the table on points difference behind York, managed to claw back a consolation try in the 66th minute. Henry O'Kane displayed considerable strength, grounding the ball despite being tackled by a pair of York defenders, reducing the deficit to 32-12. York finished the match emphatically.
With eight minutes remaining, Galeano completed his hat‑trick, sealing his personal achievement and cementing York's dominance. Toulouse added a late try when Mathieu Jussaume burst through the defensive line, but it was merely a consolation as the French side suffered their seventh league defeat of the campaign. Elsewhere on Thursday night, the Leigh Leopards delivered a strong performance against the Huddersfield Giants, winning 30-16.
Veteran Josh Charnley, celebrating his 400th appearance, scored two second‑half tries, bringing his Super League try total to 263 and placing him just five tries shy of Ryan Hall's all‑time record. AJ Towse also crossed the line twice, while Innes Senior added another try and Lachlan Lam earned a penalty try.
Huddersfield's points came from tries by Adam Swift, Taane Milne and Jacob Gagai. The Giants remain joint‑bottom of the table with Toulouse, both 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 above Toulouse on points difference.
The Knights now sit in a more comfortable position as the season progresses, though they will need to maintain consistency to avoid slipping back into the relegation zone. For fans looking to follow the action, Sky Sports continues to broadcast every Super League match live throughout the season, offering exclusive live coverage of two fixtures each round and streaming the remaining five games each week. Subscribers can also access additional content such as the Bench podcast with Jenna and Jon, and customize sports notifications to stay updated on their favorite teams. Overall, the night highlighted York's resurgence, driven by Galeano's clinical finishing and a cohesive team effort, while Leigh's seasoned campaigner Charnley reminded everyone of his enduring class.
Both clubs will look to build on these performances as the league heads into its crucial second half.