York secured a convincing 38‑14 win over fellow relegation‑battlers Toulouse at the LNER Community Stadium, thanks largely 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 blistering start. In the opening minutes, Paul Vaughan, who was celebrating his 35th birthday, powered his way over the try line under the posts, giving York an early lead.
A subsequent effort that appeared to be a second try for Vaughan was disallowed after officials ruled that the ball had not been properly grounded in the corner. Undeterred, York pressed on and Vaughan added a second try before the half‑hour mark.
Cody Hunter’s conversion was successful, pushing the scoreboard to 12‑0 after just 20 minutes of play. The early dominance set the tone for what would become a dominant display from the home side.
Toulouse managed to get on the board after about thirty minutes when Thomas Lacans displayed quick footwork, cutting inside and grounding the ball to give the French side a glimmer of hope. However, York responded almost immediately. Galeano, exploiting his speed on the right flank, dove into the corner for his first try of the night, extending the lead to 18‑6 at the break.
The second half saw York continue to pile on the pressure. At the 55‑minute mark, a kicked ball was chased by Jesse Dee, who managed to hook it back while being driven into the advertising boards. The chaotic scramble left Galeano with an unchallenged opportunity, and he seized it, scoring his second try of the evening. Kieran Buchanan then added another try for York, cementing the Knights’ control of the match.
Cody Hunter slotted a penalty shortly after the hour, bringing the tally to 32‑6. By this point, York’s confidence was palpable, and the crowd could sense the inevitability of a comfortable win. Toulouse, who had been sitting at the very bottom of the league table, trailing York only on points difference, fought back for a consolation try in the 66th minute.
Henry O’Kane displayed impressive strength, grounding the ball despite being tackled by multiple York defenders. The effort trimmed the deficit but did little to change the outcome.
As the clock wound down, Galeano completed his hat‑trick with a try eight minutes from full‑time, sealing his personal achievement and reinforcing York’s dominance. In the closing stages, Toulouse managed a final score‑line courtesy of Mathieu Jussaume, who burst through the defense for a late try, but the French side fell to their seventh league defeat of the campaign. Beyond the York‑Toulouse fixture, Thursday night offered other notable action.
Leigh Leopards delivered a solid performance against Huddersfield Giants, with Josh Charnley crossing the line twice in the second half to help Leigh secure a 30‑16 win. Charnley, celebrating his 400th professional appearance, added two more tries to his career total, raising his Super League tally to 263 and placing him just five tries shy of Ryan Hall’s all‑time record. Leigh’s victory was further bolstered by contributions from AJ Towse, who also notched a double, Innes Senior with a try, and a penalty try awarded after a foul on Lachlan Lam. Huddersfield’s points came from tries by Adam Swift, Taane Milne and Jacob Gagai, but they were insufficient to halt Leigh’s momentum.
The result leaves the Giants level with Toulouse on four points at the bottom of the table, while Leigh climbs to eighth place, reflecting a modest but important rise in the standings. Overall, the night highlighted York’s resurgence, driven by Galeano’s clinical finishing and a cohesive team effort that finally broke a damaging losing run. The Knights’ ability to convert early pressure into points, maintain defensive discipline, and capitalize on opposition errors will be crucial as they aim to climb out of the relegation zone in the weeks ahead.
Meanwhile, Leigh’s steady accumulation of points keeps them firmly in the mid‑table, and Charnley’s chase for Hall’s record adds an intriguing subplot to the season’s narrative. Fans can continue to follow the Super League action via Sky Sports, which remains the exclusive broadcaster for all matches this season, offering live coverage of two games each round and additional highlights throughout the week.