York secured a convincing 38-14 victory over fellow relegation‑battle teammates Toulouse at the LNER Community Stadium, propelled by a remarkable 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 spanned all competitions.
The Knights opened the scoring early, with Paul Vaughan—who was also celebrating his 35th birthday—ploughing his way over the line under the posts. A subsequent try that appeared to have been scored in the corner was disallowed when officials determined the ball had not been properly grounded.
Undeterred, York pressed on and Vaughan added a second try before the half‑hour mark. Cody Hunter's reliable conversion gave the home side a 12-0 advantage after just 20 minutes of play. Toulouse responded after thirty minutes when Thomas Lacans displayed quick footwork, cutting inside and touching down to get the visitors on the board. However, the lead was short‑lived; Australian winger Scott Galeano dived into the right‑hand corner for his first try of the night, pushing York's halftime lead to 18-6.
The second half saw York extend their dominance. In the 55th minute, a kicked ball was chased by Jesse Dee, who managed to hook it back while being driven into the advertising boards. The chaotic scramble left Galeano with a clear path to the try‑line, and he crossed for his second score of the evening. Kieran Buchanan then added another try, solidifying York's control of the match.
Shortly after the hour mark, Hunter slotted a penalty, taking the scoreboard to 32-6. Toulouse, who had been bottom of the table and trailing York only on points difference, fought back in the 66th minute. Henry O'Kane demonstrated considerable power, grounding the ball despite pressure from multiple York defenders, giving the French side a second try. The momentum shift was brief, however, as York finished strongly.
With eight minutes remaining, Galeano completed his hat‑trick, sealing his personal tally at three tries and cementing York's commanding performance. In the closing moments, Toulouse managed a consolation try when Mathieu Jussaume burst through the defense, but it was insufficient to alter the outcome. The French side suffered their seventh league defeat, further entrenching their position near the foot of the table. Elsewhere on Thursday night, the Leigh Leopards delivered an impressive display against the Huddersfield Giants, winning 30-16.
Veteran Josh Charnley, celebrating his 400th appearance, contributed two second‑half tries, raising his Super League career total to 263 and bringing him within five of the all‑time record held by Ryan Hall. AJ Towse also crossed the line twice, while Innes Senior added a try and Lachlan Lam secured a penalty try. Huddersfield's points came from tries by Adam Swift, Taane Milne and Jacob Gagai.
The Giants remain joint‑bottom of the league, 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 following the win, while Toulouse continues to struggle near the bottom. Fans can continue to follow the competition via Sky Sports, which will broadcast every match live this season, offering two exclusive live fixtures each round and covering the remaining five matches each week.
Overall, the night highlighted York's resurgence, driven by Galeano's clinical finishing and a cohesive team effort, as well as Leigh's strong performance that kept them firmly in the mid‑table chase. Both clubs will look to build on these results as the season progresses, aiming to secure higher positions and avoid the relegation battle that has plagued several teams this campaign.