York secured a convincing 38-14 victory over fellow relegation rivals Toulouse at the LNER Community Stadium, propelled by a spectacular 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 match got off to an early start when York’s Paul Vaughan, who was celebrating his 35th birthday on the day, powered his way over the line under the posts to give the home side the opening points. A second early try appeared to be awarded to York when the ball was grounded in the corner, but the referee ruled it out because the ball had not been properly secured, nullifying the score.
Undeterred, York soon extended their lead. Vaughan crossed the line a second time, this time in a more conventional fashion, and the conversion was successfully slotted by Cody Hunter. By the 20‑minute mark the scoreboard read 12‑0 in favour of the Knights, setting the tone for the rest of the encounter. Toulouse attempted to respond before the half‑hour deadline.
Their winger Thomas Lacans displayed impressive footwork, cutting back inside and managing to touch down, narrowing the gap to 12‑6. However, the momentum quickly swung back to York when Australian winger Scott Galeano dived into the right‑hand corner, adding another try before the break. The half‑time whistle blew with York comfortably ahead 18‑6.
The second half saw York continue to dominate possession and territory. At the 55‑minute mark, Jesse Dee chased a high kick, and as he was driven into the advertising boards, the ball ricocheted back to Galeano, who collected it for an effortless grounding. This try marked the second of Galeano’s three‑try haul and pushed York’s lead further out. Kieran Buchanan then crossed the line, giving York an even more commanding position.
Shortly after, Cody Hunter added a penalty goal, taking the tally to 32‑6 just after the hour mark. The Knights were clearly in control, dictating the pace and forcing Toulouse onto the back foot. Toulouse, who had been sitting at the bottom of the table on points difference behind York, managed to claw back a consolation try in the 66th minute. Henry O'Kane displayed considerable strength, grounding the ball despite being held up by two York defenders.
This reduced the deficit but did little to alter the overall narrative of the match. As the clock wound down, York finished the game with a flourish. With eight minutes remaining, Galeano completed his hat‑trick, sealing his personal achievement and cementing York’s dominance. Toulouse managed one final score when Mathieu Jussaume burst through the defensive line, but it was merely a late consolation as the French side suffered their seventh league defeat of the season.
In other Super League action on Thursday night, Leigh Leopards delivered a solid performance against Huddersfield Giants, winning 30-16. Veteran winger Josh Charnley, celebrating his 400th appearance, crossed the line twice in the second half, raising his career try total to 263 and moving him within five tries of the all‑time record held by Ryan Hall. AJ Towse also contributed two tries, while Innes Senior added another and Lachlan Lam earned a penalty try, ensuring a comprehensive victory for Leigh.
Huddersfield’s points came from tries by Adam Swift, Taane Milne and Jacob Gagai, but it was not enough to prevent the Giants from remaining joint‑bottom of the table, level with Toulouse on four points. Leigh’s win lifted them to eighth place in the standings. The match reports also highlighted the availability of live streaming options for fans, noting that Sky Sports will continue to broadcast every Super League game this season, with two matches per round shown exclusively live and the remaining fixtures available across the Sky Sports network. Viewers were advised to use the Chrome browser for the best video player experience.
Overall, York’s performance demonstrated a potent combination of individual brilliance—most notably Galeano’s three‑try performance—and cohesive team play, allowing them to break their losing streak and climb the league table. The Knights will look to build on this momentum in their upcoming fixtures, while Toulouse must regroup after another heavy defeat as they fight to avoid the relegation zone.