York secured a convincing 38‑14 triumph over fellow relegation‑battlers Toulouse at the LNER Community Stadium, thanks largely to a spectacular hat‑trick from Scott Galeano. The win marked the Knights’ third Betfred Super League success of the season and snapped a five‑game 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 try. Vaughan’s effort gave the home side an early advantage, although a subsequent try that appeared to be scored in the corner was disallowed because the ball had not been properly grounded. Undeterred, York pressed on and Vaughan crossed the line once more, this time converting his own effort with Cody Hunter’s reliable boot, pushing the score to 12‑0 after just 20 minutes of play. Toulouse, desperate to get on the board, began to find some rhythm around the 30‑minute mark.
French forward Thomas Lacans displayed impressive footwork, cutting back inside and diving to the left side of the field. His determination paid off, and he managed to touch down, giving the visitors a glimmer of hope and narrowing the deficit to 18‑6 at the break.
However, the half‑time whistle blew before York could extend their lead further, leaving the Knights firmly in control. The second half saw York continue to dominate possession and territory. At the 55‑minute point, a well‑timed kick was chased down by winger Jesse Dee, who managed to hook the ball back while being driven into the advertising boards.
The resulting scramble left Galeano with a clear path to the try‑line, and he calmly grounded the ball for his second score of the evening. The momentum was clearly with York, and a few minutes later Kieran Buchanan added another try, cementing the Knights’ grip on the game.
Cody Hunter then slotted a penalty goal, pushing the tally to 32‑6 just after the hour mark. Toulouse, who had been languishing at the very bottom of the league table and were positioned below York on points difference, fought back with a solitary try in the 66th minute.
Henry O’Kane, the Australian forward, displayed remarkable power as he broke through a cluster of York defenders and managed to ground the ball despite being held up by two opponents. The effort gave the French side a brief resurgence, but the damage was already done. In the closing stages, York’s dominance remained unshaken.
With eight minutes remaining, Galeano completed his hat‑trick, diving into the right corner to finish off a move that had started deep inside York’s own half. The final try sealed a comprehensive victory for the Knights. Toulouse managed a late consolation score when Mathieu Jussaume burst through the defense, but it was merely a footnote in a match that ended with York celebrating a seventh league defeat for the French club.
Beyond the York‑Toulouse clash, Thursday night featured another noteworthy result. Leigh Leopards overcame Huddersfield Giants 30‑16, thanks in large part to the brilliance of Josh Charnley.
The veteran winger, who was marking his 400th professional appearance, crossed the line twice in the second half, raising his Super League try total to 263 and bringing him within five of Ryan Hall’s all‑time record. AJ Towse also contributed two tries, while Innes Senior added another and Lachlan Lam earned a penalty try, rounding out a well‑distributed scoring effort for Leigh. Huddersfield’s points came from tries by Adam Swift, Taane Milne and Jacob Gagai, but the Giants could not overcome the relentless pressure from Leigh. The defeat left Huddersfield joint‑bottom of the table, level with Toulouse on four points, while Leigh’s victory propelled them up to eighth place in the standings.
The weekend’s action highlighted the intensity of the Super League’s lower‑table battles, with York and Leigh each securing vital wins that could prove decisive in the fight against relegation. Both clubs will look to build on these performances as the season progresses, hoping to climb the table and avoid the drop. For fans eager to follow the league, Sky Sports continues to broadcast every Super League match live throughout the season, offering exclusive live coverage of two games each round and streaming the remaining five fixtures each week.
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