York secured a convincing 38-14 triumph over fellow relegation‑battle strugglers Toulouse at the LNER Community Stadium, thanks in large part to a spectacular hat‑trick from Scott Galeano. The win marked York's third success of the Betfred Super League season and snapped a five‑game losing streak that had spanned all competitions. The match began with a burst of energy from the home side. Paul Vaughan, who was celebrating his 35th birthday on the day, powered his way over the try line early in the first half, diving under the posts to give York an early lead.
A subsequent effort that appeared to be a try in the corner was disallowed when the video referee determined that the ball had not been properly grounded. Undeterred, Vaughan struck again shortly thereafter, this time crossing in the centre of the field. His second try was successfully converted by kicker Cody Hunter, and by the 20‑minute mark York were ahead 12‑0.
Toulouse responded after about thirty minutes when Thomas Lacans displayed quick footwork to cut inside and touch down, narrowing the gap. However, the Australian winger Scott Galeano answered immediately, diving into the right corner to extend York's advantage.
At the break, the scoreboard read 18‑6 in favour of the Knights, a comfortable cushion that reflected their growing confidence. The second half opened with York maintaining pressure. In the 55th minute, Jesse Dee chased a high kick, and as he was driven into the advertising boards, the ball ricocheted back to Galeano, who collected it and grounded it with ease for his second try of the evening. The momentum continued when Kieran Buchanan added another try, further cementing York's dominance.
Shortly after the hour mark, Cody Hunter slotted a penalty goal, pushing the lead to 32‑6. Toulouse, who had been sitting at the very bottom of the league table—just behind York on points difference—refused to surrender without a fight. In the 66th minute, Henry O'Kane displayed considerable power, breaking through a cluster of York defenders to touch down for the French side, bringing the score to 32‑12. Their persistence paid off again later in the game when Mathieu Jussaume burst through York's defensive line for a late consolation try, finalising the score at 38‑14.
Galeano capped off his personal performance by completing his hat‑trick with a try in the final eight minutes, sealing a night that will be remembered by York supporters for its attacking flair and resilience. The victory not only gave the Knights three league points but also helped them climb the table, while Toulouse suffered their seventh defeat of the campaign. Elsewhere on Thursday night, the Leigh Leopards delivered a strong performance of their own, defeating the Huddersfield Giants 30‑16. Veteran winger Josh Charnley, celebrating his 400th professional appearance, crossed the line twice in the second half, bringing his Super League try total to 263 and positioning him just five tries shy of Ryan Hall's all‑time record.
AJ Towse contributed a brace of tries, while Innes Senior added another, and Lachlan Lam secured a penalty try, rounding out Leigh's scoring. Huddersfield's points came from tries by Adam Swift, Taane Milne and Jacob Gagai, but it was not enough to halt Leigh's ascendancy. The Giants remain joint‑bottom of the standings, level with Toulouse on four points, while Leigh's win lifted them to eighth place. The Super League continues to be broadcast live on Sky Sports throughout the season, with two matches each round shown exclusively live and the remaining five fixtures available each week on the channel.
Fans are encouraged to use the Chrome browser for the most accessible video player experience. Overall, York's commanding display, highlighted by Galeano's three‑try haul, demonstrates the team's potential to climb out of the relegation zone, while Leigh's solid win over Huddersfield underscores their growing momentum as the season progresses.