Toulouse Olympique 12-20 York Knights: Match Report

Aug 17, 2024

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York Knights beat Toulouse Olympique 20-12 in the Betfred Championship to get their first win in France since 2011.

It was also the first win against Toulouse since 2013.

First half tries from Joe Brown and Nikau Williams set the tone for the game, with another try from Will Dagger in the second half sealing a memorable victory.

It was the seventh win for Mark Applegarth in ten games in charge.

It wasn’t the best of starts though for the Knights in the scorching temperatures, with Toulouse getting the first try of the afternoon in the opening minutes.

Anthony Marion found a gap just to the right of the posts. Shorocks converted to give the home side an early 6-0 lead.

After a scrappy spell a penalty gave the Knights good position and Joe Brown crossed in the corner after work from Ata Hingano and Will Dagger in the build up. Hingano converted to level the score.

An error from York in their own 30 metre area then set up a dangerous position for Toulouse but strong defence meant Olympique were held up over the line.

The Knights were growing in confidence and when Hingano broke the line, Nikau Williams raced up to take the pass and went in to give York the lead. Dagger took over kicking duties with an accurate conversion.

With five minutes to go before the break, Dagger was hit by a Toulouse challenge which was put on report. He added a penalty from 10 metres out to give York an eight point lead at half time.

Toulouse had the better of the opening exchanges of the second half, with Dominique Peyroux unable to ground the ball after winning the chase to a kick through.

However the Knights weren’t in the mood to let the home side into the game.

Williams missed a chance to put the Knights further ahead, when he couldn’t take a pass from Hingano with the line clear in front of him.

A huge hit on Marion saw Jordan Thompson sent to the sin bin with just under half an hour to go, but Toulouse still couldn’t break down the 12 man defence.

York kept control of the game despite the one man deficit, and almost stretched the lead further, only for Brown to be pulled back for a forward pass.

WIth Toulouse building pressure on the York line, a big tackle by Dagger meant Robin Brochon lost possession. Dagger collected the loose ball and went galloping downfield to score to the delight of the travelling fans. His conversion put York 14 points ahead.

Winger Paul Ulberg scored for Olympique after finding space down the left and Shorrocks conversion brought them back to within eight points with 11 minutes to go.

It triggered a better spell from Toulouse in the final few minutes but it wasn’t enough to deny York a well earned victory.

York: Dagger, Ward, Field, Law, Brown, Hingano, WIlliams, Michael, Jubb, Thompson, Daley, Gannon, Cunningham

Subs: Daley, Santi, Fitzsimmons, Teanby

18th Player: Reynolds

Tries: Brown (16), Williams (30), Dagger (64)

Goals: Hingano (1/1), Dagger (3/3)

Sin bin: Jordan Thompson (52)

Toulouse: Brochon, Ulberg, Rennie, Jussaume, Marcon, Rivett, Shorrocks, Belmas, Gahan, Hansen, Stefani, Peyroux, Marion

Subs: Lima, Roumanos, Akauola, Armitage,

18th Player: Richards

Tries: Marion (7), Ulberg (69)

Goals: Shorrocks (2/2)