York secured a convincing 38-14 win over fellow relegation‑battlers Toulouse at the LNER Community Stadium, thanks largely to a spectacular hat‑trick from Scott Galeano. The triumph marked York's third Betfred Super League victory of the campaign and snapped a dismal run of five straight defeats across all competitions.
The match began on a celebratory note for York forward Paul Vaughan, who turned 35 on the day. Vaughan opened the scoring early, diving under the posts to touch down a try that set the tone for the home side. A second early effort, this time from the right corner, was disallowed because the ball failed to be grounded properly, but the Knights quickly regained momentum.
Just minutes later Vaughan struck again, crossing the line for his second try of the evening. Team‑mate Cody Hunter added the conversion, pushing York to a 12-0 lead within the first 20 minutes. The early dominance gave the Knights confidence and forced Toulouse onto the back foot. Toulouse managed to get on the scoreboard after about thirty minutes when Thomas Lacans displayed quick footwork, cutting back inside and grounding the ball to make it 12-6.
However, the lead was short‑lived. Australian winger Scott Galeano, who had already found the try‑line once, dived into the right corner to extend York's advantage to 18-6 just before the half‑time break. The second half opened with York continuing to press. At the 55‑minute mark, a high kick was chased by 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 night. Kieran Buchanan then added another try for the Knights, further cementing York's control of the contest.
Cody Hunter converted a penalty shortly after, taking the score to 32-6 just after the hour hand. At this point, York's dominance was clear: they were dictating possession, territory, and the physical battle in the forwards. Toulouse, who had been sitting at the very bottom of the league table on points difference behind York, fought back with a late surge. In the 66th minute, Henry O'Kane displayed impressive power, powering his way through a York defensive wall and grounding the ball for a try that reduced the deficit to 32-12.
York, however, were not finished. With eight minutes remaining, Galeano completed his hat‑trick, crossing the line for the third time and sealing the victory for the home side. The final minutes saw Toulouse add a consolation try when Mathieu Jussaume burst through the defense, but the French side fell to their seventh league defeat of the season.
Beyond the York‑Toulouse clash, Thursday night featured another notable result. Leigh Leopards overcame Huddersfield Giants 30-16, propelled by a pair of second‑half tries from veteran Josh Charnley. Charnley, celebrating his 400th appearance, not only scored twice but also moved his career try tally to 263, bringing him within five of the all‑time Super League record held by Ryan Hall. Leigh's victory was a collective effort.
AJ Towse contributed two tries, Innes Senior added another, and Lachlan Lam secured a penalty try, while Huddersfield's points came from tries by Adam Swift, Taane Milne and Jacob Gagai. The result lifted Leigh to eighth place in the standings, while Huddersfield remain joint‑bottom with Toulouse, both on four points. The latest Super League table reflects York's upward movement after their win, while Toulouse continue to languish at the foot of the league. Fans can follow live coverage of all matches this season on Sky Sports, which will broadcast two games per round exclusively live, with the remaining fixtures shown throughout the week.
Overall, the night highlighted York's resurgence, driven by Galeano's clinical finishing and a cohesive team performance, while Leigh's experienced squad demonstrated why they remain a threat despite a mid‑table position. Both clubs will look to build on these results as the season progresses, aiming to climb the ladder and avoid the relegation battle that has defined much of the early campaign.