York secured a convincing 38-14 triumph over fellow relegation‑battle team Toulouse at the LNER Community Stadium, thanks largely to a spectacular hat‑trick from Scott Galeano. The win marked York's third success of the Betfred Super League season and broke 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 under the posts for the opening score. A subsequent try that appeared to be scored in the corner was disallowed after officials determined that the ball had not been properly grounded.
Vaughan, however, was quick to make amends, crossing the line again shortly thereafter. With Cody Hunter's reliable conversion, the home side surged ahead to a 12-0 lead within the first twenty minutes. Toulouse responded after roughly thirty minutes when Thomas Lacans demonstrated quick footwork, cutting back inside to touch down and put the visitors on the board.
Yet York answered immediately; Galeano, the Australian winger, dived into the right‑hand corner to score, pushing the halftime score to 18-6 in favor of the Knights. The second half saw York extend their dominance. At the 55‑minute mark, Jesse Dee chased a high kick, only to be forced into the advertising boards by a cluster of York defenders. The ball ricocheted back to Galeano, who collected it with ease and grounded for his second try of the evening.
Shortly thereafter, Kieran Buchanan added another try, cementing York's control of the contest. Cody Hunter then slotted a penalty goal, taking the tally to 32-6 just after the hour mark.
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 displayed considerable power, driving the ball over the line despite being held up by a pair of York players. The French side's efforts, however, were insufficient to overturn the deficit. York finished the match strongly.
With eight minutes remaining, Galeano completed his hat‑trick, sealing his personal contribution and ensuring a comfortable margin. In the dying moments, Toulouse earned a consolation try when Mathieu Jussaume burst through the York defense, but the result was already decided: York had secured a seventh league defeat for Toulouse. In other action on Thursday night, Leigh Leopards delivered a solid performance against Huddersfield Giants, winning 30-16.
Veteran Josh Charnley, celebrating his 400th appearance, crossed the line twice in the second half, raising his Super League try count to 263 and positioning him just five tries shy of Ryan Hall's all‑time record. AJ Towse also added two tries, while Innes Senior contributed another, and Lachlan Lam was awarded a penalty try. Huddersfield's points came from tries by Adam Swift, Taane Milne and Jacob Gagai.
The result left the Giants level with Toulouse at the foot of the table, each on four points, while Leigh climbed to eighth place. Looking ahead, Sky Sports will continue to broadcast every Super League fixture throughout the season, with two matches each round shown exclusively live and the remaining five games available on the network each week.
Fans are encouraged to use a Chrome browser for the best video playback experience. Overall, York's performance highlighted their attacking potency, particularly through Galeano's three‑try haul, and suggested a potential turning point after a difficult spell of defeats. Their defensive resilience, illustrated by the ability to repel Toulouse's late surge, will be crucial as the season progresses and the battle for survival intensifies.