York secured a convincing 38-14 triumph over fellow relegation‑battle opponents Toulouse at the LNER Community Stadium, thanks in large part to a spectacular hat‑trick from Scott Galeano. The win marked York’s third Betfred Super League success of the campaign and snapped a five‑match losing streak that had spanned all competitions. The Knights opened the scoring early, with Paul Vaughan—who was also celebrating his 35th birthday—ploughing his way over the try line under the posts. Vaughan’s effort gave York an immediate psychological edge, and although a subsequent try in the corner was disallowed because the ball failed to be grounded cleanly, the momentum was clearly with the home side.
Vaughan added a second try shortly after, and Cody Hunter’s reliable conversion pushed the scoreboard to 12-0 within the first 20 minutes. The early dominance set the tone for what would become a dominant display by York throughout the match.
Around the half‑hour mark, Toulouse managed to get on the board when Thomas Lacans displayed quick footwork to cut back inside and touch down. However, the lead was short‑lived; Australian winger Scott Galeano, who had already been a constant threat on the right flank, dived into the right‑hand corner to score his first of the night, extending York’s advantage to 18-6 at the interval. The second half saw York continue to press forward. At the 55‑minute point, Jesse Dee chased a high kick, only to be bundled into the advertising boards.
The ball ricocheted back to Galeano, who collected it with ease and grounded it for his second try of the evening, further widening the gap. Kieran Buchanan then added another try, cementing York’s control of the game. Cody Hunter followed with a successful penalty kick, taking the tally to 32-6 just after the hour mark.
Toulouse, who had been languishing at the bottom of the table and were trailing York on points difference, managed to scrape a second try in the 66th minute. Henry O'Kane demonstrated impressive power, driving the ball down despite being held up by a pair of York defenders, giving the French side a brief glimmer of hope. York, however, were not content to settle. With eight minutes remaining, Galeano completed his hat‑trick, sealing the win and underscoring his status as the match’s standout performer.
Toulouse managed a late consolation try when Mathieu Jussaume burst through the defense, but it was too little, too late, as the Knights celebrated a seventh league defeat for the French club. In other action on Thursday night, Leigh Leopards delivered a solid performance against Huddersfield Giants, with Josh Charnley scoring two second‑half tries to help Leigh to a 30-16 victory. Charnley, who was marking his 400th appearance, lifted his Super League try total to 263, 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 secured a penalty try, rounding out a prolific night for Leigh.
Huddersfield’s points came from tries by Adam Swift, Taane Milne and Jacob Gagai, but the Giants remained stuck at the bottom of the table, level with Toulouse on four points. Leigh’s win propelled them up to eighth place in the standings.
The match reports highlighted the importance of using a Chrome browser for an optimal video‑player experience, a note repeated throughout the coverage. Fans were also reminded of the latest Super League table, streaming options that require no contract, and the Bench podcast hosted by Jenna and Jon, which offers in‑depth analysis and commentary.
Looking ahead, Sky Sports confirmed that it will continue to broadcast every Super League game live throughout the season, featuring two matches per round exclusively on its main channel, with the remaining five fixtures shown each week on Sky Sports+. This comprehensive coverage ensures that supporters can follow the league’s developments, including the ongoing battle for survival at the bottom of the table and the chase for playoff positions at the top.
Overall, York’s performance was a masterclass in exploiting early momentum, maintaining defensive solidity, and capitalising on individual brilliance—particularly from Galeano, whose hat‑trick will be remembered as a key factor in the Knights’ resurgence. Meanwhile, Leigh’s victory over Huddersfield signals a potential climb up the ladder, while Toulouse must regroup quickly to avoid further setbacks in a season that is already proving to be a difficult one for the French side.