York managed to edge past fellow relegation‑watchers Toulouse with a convincing 38‑14 win at the LNER Community Stadium, thanks in large part to a three‑try haul from Scott Galeano. The triumph marked York’s third Betfred Super League success of the season and snapped a five‑game losing streak that had spanned all competitions. The Knights opened the scoring early, with centre Paul Vaughan – who was also celebrating his 35th birthday – powering over the line under the posts. Vaughan’s effort gave the home crowd an early lift, although a subsequent try that appeared to be scored in the corner was disallowed because the referee ruled that the ball had not been properly grounded.
Undeterred, York pressed on and Vaughan crossed the line a second time within the opening 20 minutes. This time, kicker Cody Hunter converted the try, pushing the scoreboard to 12‑0 in favour of the hosts.
Toulouse tried to respond before the half‑hour mark. Their winger, Thomas Lacans, displayed quick footwork to cut back inside and touch down, putting the visitors on the board and reducing the deficit to 12‑6. However, the momentum quickly swung back to York when Australian winger Scott Galeano dove into the right‑hand corner, extending the lead to 18‑6 at the break. The second half saw York continue to dominate possession and territory.
Around the 55‑minute mark, a loose kick was chased by York’s full‑back Jesse Dee, who managed to hook the ball back as he was driven into the advertising boards. The ball ricocheted forward, presenting Galeano with an easy opportunity to ground the ball for his second try of the night. The crowd erupted as the score moved further away from Toulouse’s reach. Kieran Buchanan then added another try for the Knights, cementing York’s control of the match.
Hunter’s accurate boot added a penalty goal shortly after the hour, taking the tally to 32‑6 and leaving Toulouse with a steep hill to climb. Toulouse, who had been sitting at the bottom of the league table on points difference behind York, managed to claw a second try in the 66th minute. Henry O’Kane displayed considerable strength and determination, grounding the ball despite being held up by a pair of York defenders.
The French side’s consolation try narrowed the gap but did little to alter the overall narrative of the game. In the closing stages, York finished strongly. With eight minutes remaining, Galeano completed his hat‑trick, sealing his personal achievement and further demoralising the opposition. Toulouse’s final consolation came when Mathieu Jussaume burst through the York defence for a late score, but the French side ultimately suffered their seventh league defeat of the campaign.
Elsewhere on Thursday night, the Leigh Leopards produced a solid performance of their own. Josh Charnley, marking his 400th appearance, crossed the line twice in the second half, helping Leigh to a 30‑16 win over the Huddersfield Giants.
Charnley’s two tries lifted his Super League career total to 263, placing him just five tries shy of Ryan Hall’s all‑time record. AJ Towse also contributed a brace of tries, while Innes Senior added another and Lachlan Lam secured a penalty try, showcasing Leigh’s attacking depth. Huddersfield’s points came from tries by Adam Swift, Taane Milne and Jacob Gagai, but the Giants could not overcome Leigh’s momentum. The defeat left Huddersfield level with Toulouse on four points at the bottom of the table, while Leigh’s victory propelled them up to eighth place.
The matches were broadcast with a reminder for viewers to use the Chrome browser for an optimal video‑player experience. Sky Sports continues to provide live coverage of every Super League fixture throughout the season, offering two exclusive live matches each round and streaming the remaining five games each week on its platform. Overall, York’s comprehensive win, highlighted by Galeano’s hat‑trick, not only halted their recent slump but also gave them a valuable three points in the fight to climb out of the relegation zone.
Meanwhile, Leigh’s solid performance against Huddersfield underscored their growing confidence as they aim for a higher league finish. The weekend’s results reshaped the lower half of the Super League table, setting the stage for an intriguing run‑in as teams vie for survival and promotion in the weeks ahead.