York secured a convincing 38-14 triumph over fellow relegation‑battle strugglers 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 dismal run of five consecutive defeats across all competitions. The match got off to a lively start when York’s veteran forward Paul Vaughan, who was celebrating his 35th birthday on the day, powered his way over the try line under the posts within the opening minutes. Vaughan’s effort gave the home side an early advantage, though a subsequent try that appeared to be scored in the corner was disallowed after officials ruled that the ball had not been properly grounded.
York quickly doubled their lead when Vaughan crossed again just a few minutes later. This time the conversion was successfully taken by Cody Hunter, pushing the scoreboard to 12-0 after only twenty minutes of play.
The early dominance set the tone for a match in which York would rarely look back. Around the thirty‑minute mark, Toulouse finally got on the board. Their winger, Thomas Lacans, displayed quick footwork to cut back inside and touch down, giving the visitors a glimmer of hope.
However, the lead was short‑lived; Australian winger Scott Galeano responded almost immediately, diving into the right corner to extend York's advantage to 18-6 at the halftime break. The second half saw York continue to press forward. In the 55th minute, a well‑executed kick was chased by York centre Jesse Dee, who managed to hook the ball back as he was driven into the advertising boards.
The chaotic scramble left Galeano with a clear path to the try line, and he capitalised, adding his second try of the evening. Kieran Buchanan then added another try for the Knights, cementing York’s control of the contest. Cody Hunter added a penalty goal shortly after, taking the tally to 32-6 just past the hour mark.
At this point, the outcome seemed all but decided. Toulouse, who had been languishing at the bottom of the league table and were positioned below York on points difference, managed to claw a second try in the 66th minute. Henry O'Kane demonstrated impressive power, grounding the ball despite being held up by a pair of York defenders, narrowing the deficit slightly.
York, however, were not content to let the game slip away. With eight minutes remaining, Galeano completed his hat‑trick, sealing his personal achievement and sealing York’s dominance. The French side managed a late consolation when Mathieu Jussaume burst through the defense to score, but the final scoreline read 38-14, marking Toulouse’s seventh defeat of the season.
In other Super League action on Thursday night, Leigh Leopards delivered a commanding performance against Huddersfield Giants, winning 30-16. Veteran Josh Charnley, celebrating his 400th appearance, crossed the line twice in the second half, raising his career try total to 263 and bringing him within five of the all‑time record held by Ryan Hall.
AJ Towse also contributed two tries, while Innes Senior added another and Lachlan Lam was awarded a penalty try. Huddersfield’s points came from tries by Adam Swift, Taane Milne and Jacob Gagai, but the Giants remained stuck at the foot of the table, level with Toulouse on four points. Leigh, meanwhile, climbed to eighth place in the standings. Both matches were broadcast with a reminder for viewers to use the Chrome browser for the most accessible video player experience.
Sky Sports continues its commitment to the Super League, promising live coverage of every game this season, including two exclusive live fixtures each round and five additional matches shown weekly on the network. Overall, York’s victory, highlighted by Galeano’s hat‑trick and Vaughan’s birthday heroics, provides a much‑needed boost as the club seeks to climb out of the relegation zone, while Leigh’s win further solidifies their mid‑table push. The league table remains tightly contested, and the upcoming rounds promise more excitement as teams vie for crucial points.