York secured a convincing 38-14 win over fellow relegation‑battle opponents Toulouse at the LNER Community Stadium, thanks in large part to a spectacular hat‑trick from Australian winger Scott Galeano. The triumph marked York's third Betfred Super League victory of the season and snapped a five‑game losing streak that had spanned all competitions. The Knights got off to a flying start when 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 crowd an early surge of optimism.
A second early try appeared to be awarded after a corner grounding, but the video referee ruled that the ball had not been properly grounded, nullifying the score. York quickly restored their momentum, however. Vaughan struck again just a few minutes later, this time crossing in the right-hand corner.
The conversion was expertly handled by Cody Hunter, who sent the ball cleanly between the posts, extending York's lead to 12-0 after just twenty minutes of play. Toulouse attempted to answer back before the half‑hour mark. Their French winger Thomas Lacans displayed impressive footwork, cutting back inside and diving over to put the visitors on the board, narrowing the deficit to 12-6.
Yet York responded instantly. Galeano, who had already been a constant threat on the right flank, dived into the corner and grounded the ball, pushing York's lead to 18-6 at the break. The second half opened with York maintaining their dominance.
At the 55‑minute mark, a high kick was fielded by York's Jesse Dee, who chased it down and, after being forced into the advertising boards, managed to hook the ball back to Galeano. The Australian winger took the simple grounding opportunity, adding his second try of the afternoon. Kieran Buchanan then crossed for York, cementing the Knights' control of the match. Hunter added a penalty goal shortly after, taking the scoreboard to 32-6 just after the hour mark.
Toulouse, still languishing at the bottom of the table and trailing York on points difference, fought back with a try in the 66th minute. Henry O'Kane displayed considerable strength, powering his way over despite being held by a pair of York defenders, reducing the gap to 32-12. York's relentless pressure continued. With eight minutes remaining, Galeano completed his hat‑trick, sealing the win for the home side.
The French side managed a late consolation try when Mathieu Jussaume burst through the defense, but it was too little, too late, and Toulouse suffered their seventh league defeat of the campaign. In other Super League action on Thursday night, Leigh Leopards delivered a solid performance against Huddersfield Giants, winning 30-16. Veteran Josh Charnley, celebrating his 400th appearance, scored two second‑half tries, taking his career total to 263 and bringing him within five of Ryan Hall's all‑time record. AJ Towse contributed a brace of tries, while Innes Senior added another and Lachlan Lam secured a penalty try, rounding out Leigh's scoring.
Huddersfield's points came from tries by Adam Swift, Taane Milne and Jacob Gagai, but it was not enough to stave off defeat. The Giants remain joint‑bottom of the league table, level with Toulouse on four points, while Leigh's victory lifted them to eighth place. The Super League continues to be broadcast live on Sky Sports throughout the season, with two matches each round shown exclusively live and the remaining five matches available on Sky Sports' broader coverage.
Fans are encouraged to use the Chrome browser for the most accessible video player experience. Overall, York's performance demonstrated a blend of physicality, tactical execution, and individual brilliance, particularly from Galeano, whose three‑try haul will be remembered as a key factor in the Knights' resurgence.
The win also provides a morale boost as the club looks to climb out of the relegation zone and secure a more stable position in the league standings.