York secured a convincing 38-14 triumph over fellow relegation‑battle side Toulouse at the LNER Community Stadium, thanks in large part to a spectacular hat‑trick from Australian winger 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 Knights opened the scoring early, with centre Paul Vaughan—who was also celebrating his 35th birthday—ploughing over the line beneath the posts. Vaughan's effort gave the home crowd an early boost, although a subsequent try in the corner was disallowed when officials determined the ball had not been properly grounded.
Undeterred, York pressed on, and Vaughan struck again shortly thereafter. His second try, converted by reliable kicker Cody Hunter, pushed the scoreboard to 12-0 within the first 20 minutes of play. Toulouse attempted to respond before the half‑hour mark. Their winger Thomas Lacans displayed impressive footwork, cutting back inside to cross the try line and give the visitors a foothold on the board.
However, York quickly re‑established dominance when Galeano dove into the right corner, extending the lead to 18-6 at the interval. The second half saw York continue to dictate the tempo. At the 55‑minute mark, a loose kick was chased by full‑back Jesse Dee, who managed to hook the ball back while being driven into the advertising boards.
The scramble left Galeano with a simple grounding opportunity, and he seized it for his second try of the evening. Shortly after, Kieran Buchanan added another score, cementing York's control of the contest. Hunter then slotted a penalty goal, taking the tally to 32-6 just after the hour hand.
Toulouse, who had been positioned at the very bottom of the league table—below York on points difference—refused to surrender without a fight. In the 66th minute, forward Henry O'Kane demonstrated considerable strength, powering through a York defensive wall to touch down his second try of the match. The French side's late surge was further highlighted when Mathieu Jussaume burst through the defense in the final minutes, securing a consolation score as Toulouse suffered their seventh league defeat of the campaign.
York finished the game with flair. With eight minutes remaining, Galeano completed his hat‑trick, sealing his personal contribution and ensuring the Knights' victory was emphatic.
The final whistle confirmed a 38-14 result, a performance that not only boosted York's confidence but also moved them up the Super League standings, distancing them from the relegation zone. Elsewhere on Thursday night, the Leigh Leopards delivered a dominant display against the Huddersfield Giants, winning 30-16.
Veteran Josh Charnley, celebrating his 400th appearance, crossed the line twice in the second half, raising his career try total to 263 and placing him within five tries of the all‑time record held by Ryan Hall. AJ Towse also contributed a brace of tries, while Innes Senior added another and Lachlan Lam secured a penalty try, rounding out Leigh's scoring onslaught. Huddersfield's points came from tries by Adam Swift, Taane Milne and Jacob Gagai, but those efforts were insufficient to stem Leigh's momentum.
The Giants remain joint‑bottom of the table, level with Toulouse on four points, while Leigh's victory lifted them to eighth place. The Super League continues to offer live coverage across Sky Sports, with each round featuring two matches broadcast exclusively live and the remaining five games shown throughout the week. Fans can stay updated via the league's official streaming platforms, and personalized sports notifications are available for those who wish to track their favourite teams and players in real time.