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 Betfred Super League success of the campaign and snapped a five‑game losing streak that had spanned all competitions. The Knights opened the scoring early, with Paul Vaughan – who was celebrating his 35th birthday on the day – crashing over the line under the posts. Vaughan’s try was quickly followed by a controversial moment when a second try appeared to be scored in the corner, only to be disallowed because the ball had not been properly grounded.
Undeterred, York pressed on and Vaughan crossed the line again within the first twenty minutes. Cody Hunter’s reliable conversion pushed the home side ahead 12‑0, establishing a comfortable cushion before the half‑hour mark. Toulouse attempted to claw back into the contest when Thomas Lacans displayed impressive footwork, cutting inside and touching down just after the thirty‑minute point. However, the lead was short‑lived; Australian winger Scott Galeano dived into the right‑hand corner to add another try, sending York into the break with an 18‑6 advantage.
The second half saw York extend their dominance. At the 55‑minute mark, a kick‑chase by Jesse Dee resulted in a spectacular ball‑hook that saw him driven into the advertising boards, leaving Galeano with an unchallenged opportunity to ground the ball for his second try of the evening. Kieran Buchanan then added a further try, cementing York’s control of the match. Cody Hunter’s successful penalty kick shortly after the hour made the score 32‑6, a gap that appeared insurmountable.
Toulouse, who had been sitting at the bottom of the table on points difference behind York, managed to find a glimmer of hope in the 66th minute. Henry O’Kane displayed considerable power, battling through a cluster of York defenders to get the ball down for a try, narrowing the margin to 32‑12.
York, however, were not finished. With eight minutes remaining, Galeano completed his hat‑trick, sealing his personal achievement and further extending the lead. Toulouse managed a late consolation score when Mathieu Jussaume burst through the defense, but the French side ultimately suffered their seventh league defeat of the season.
In other action on Thursday night, Leigh Leopards overcame Huddersfield Giants 30‑16. Josh Charnley, celebrating his 400th appearance, struck twice in the second half, bringing his Super League try total to 263 and placing him just five tries shy of Ryan Hall’s record. AJ Towse contributed two tries of his own, while Innes Senior added another and Lachlan Lam earned a penalty try, rounding out a prolific night for Leigh. Huddersfield’s points came from tries by Adam Swift, Taane Milne and Jacob Gagai.
The Giants remain joint‑bottom of the table, level with Toulouse on four points, while Leigh’s victory lifts them to eighth place. The match reports also highlighted the ongoing availability of Super League streaming options without a contract, the Bench podcast featuring Jenna and Jon, and customizable sports notifications for fans. Sky Sports confirmed that it will continue to broadcast every Super League fixture live throughout the season, with two matches per round shown exclusively live and the remaining five matches available each week on the Sky Sports platform. Overall, York’s performance was a masterclass in exploiting opportunities and maintaining pressure, with Galeano’s hat‑trick serving as the centerpiece of a dominant display.
The Knights’ ability to bounce back from a string of defeats and secure a solid win will be a confidence‑boosting step forward as they look to climb the league table. Meanwhile, Toulouse must regroup after another heavy loss, and both teams will be keen to address the defensive lapses that have plagued their seasons thus far. The broader Super League landscape continues to evolve, with Leigh’s resurgence offering fresh competition for the mid‑table positions and the battle for survival intensifying as the season progresses.