York secured a convincing 38-14 victory 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 triumph in the Betfred Super League and snapped a five‑match losing streak that had spanned all competitions. The match got off to a lively start when Paul Vaughan, who was celebrating his 35th birthday on the day, powered his way over the try line under the posts to give the home side an early advantage.
Vaughan's effort was followed by a contentious moment when a second try, scored near the corner, was disallowed because the referee determined the ball had not been properly grounded. Undeterred, York continued to press, and Vaughan crossed the line again shortly thereafter.
With Cody Hunter's reliable conversion, the Knights surged ahead to a 12-0 lead within the first 20 minutes of play. Toulouse attempted to answer back, and after about half an hour Thomas Lacans displayed impressive footwork to cut inside and touch down, putting the French side on the board.
However, the lead was short‑lived; Australian winger Scott Galeano, who would later become the story of the night, dived into the right‑hand corner to score, sending York into the halftime break with an 18-6 advantage. The second half opened with York extending their dominance.
At the 55‑minute mark, Jesse Dee chased a high kick, only to be knocked into the advertising boards. The ball ricocheted back to Galeano, who collected it with little resistance and grounded the ball for his second try of the evening.
The momentum continued as Kieran Buchanan added another try, cementing York's control of the contest. Shortly after the hour mark, Hunter slotted a penalty goal, pushing the scoreboard to 32-6. Toulouse, who had been sitting at the very bottom of the league table, managed to claw back a second try in the 66th minute.
Henry O'Kane showed considerable power, driving through a cluster of York defenders and forcing the ball to the ground despite being held up. This effort gave the French side a brief glimmer of hope, but the gap remained substantial. York finished the match with a flourish.
With eight minutes remaining, Galeano completed his hat‑trick, sealing his personal contribution to the team's triumph. 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 Super League action on Thursday night, the Leigh Leopards recorded a 30-16 win over the Huddersfield Giants. Veteran Josh Charnley, celebrating his 400th appearance, crossed the line twice in the second half, raising his career try tally to 263 and bringing him within five of Ryan Hall's all‑time record.
AJ Towse also contributed two tries, while Innes Senior added another 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 table, level with Toulouse on four points, while Leigh climbed to eighth place. The results have significant implications for the league standings.
York's victory lifts them out of the relegation zone and provides a morale boost after a difficult run of form. Their defensive solidity, highlighted by limiting Toulouse to just two tries, combined with a potent attacking display—particularly Galeano's three‑try haul—suggests they could be a more competitive side in the weeks ahead. Meanwhile, Toulouse's continued struggles underline the challenges they face in trying to escape the bottom of the table, as they now sit at the very foot of the standings with only a handful of points.
The Super League continues to offer a mix of thrilling individual performances and team narratives. Sky Sports will broadcast every match of the season, with two games each round shown exclusively live and the remaining fixtures streamed on the network throughout the week, ensuring fans have ample opportunity to follow their clubs' progress. Overall, the night highlighted the impact a single player can have on a game, as demonstrated by Galeano's hat‑trick, and reinforced the importance of consistency for clubs aiming to avoid the drop. As the season progresses, both York and Leigh will look to build on these wins, while Toulouse and Huddersfield must regroup quickly if they hope to reverse their fortunes before the campaign draws to a close.