Toulouse Olympique 30-22 York Knights : Match Report

York Knights’ winning run in Betfred Super League came to an end with a 30-22 defeat at Toulouse Olympique.

A disappointing first half saw them go 14 points down inside the first quarter of an hour, and after being starved of possession for most of what followed, they went in at the break 28-0 behind.

However, a very different second half saw Mark Applegarth’s side outscore Toulouse by four tries to none as they finally showed what they were capable of.

The deficit proved too much to overcome though, and the Knights fell to their first loss in four games.

The scoring opened after just three minutes, when a penalty for a high tackle allowed Jake Shorrocks to kick an easy two points for the home side.

Their good start continued when Shorrocks added a converted try moments later, following a break down the right from Olympique.

The dominant start produced more pressure near York’s line, and a pass from Ollie Ashall-Bott found Luke Polselli in good position to score another converted try, and Toulouse were racking up almost a point a minute.

The momentum halted for a while, but when Ashall-Bott was allowed space to step around the defensive line, he extended the lead. Shorrocks again was accurate with the conversion.

Paul Ulberg then squeezed over in the corner after a break by Polselli caused havoc in the Knights defence. Shorrocks missed his first kick of the game.

Toulouse followed that with a Henry O’Kane try, as he got a hand to a loose ball when York failed to deal with a kick through.

Shortly before the break, a sweeping move across the line gave Jon Bennison space, but he couldn’t get the ball down cleanly to break York’s duck, and they went in at the break 28 points down.

York needed a response in the second half, and they started brighly. Sam Wood was held just short of the line as Toulouse’s defence remained solid.

Their effort eventually paid off, when Oli Field followed Cody Hunter and took a short pass to score their first try. Bennison converted.

Jordan Thompson was then held short as York enjoyed their best spell of pressure, before Sam Wood forced his way over for a try despite having men around him.

Nikau Williams then went in after good hands from Hunter and Mata’afa, and with Bennison’s conversion, it was York’s turn to be scoring at almost a point a minute.

That run was halted when they conceded a penalty for a late challenge and Shorrocks nudged Olympique ahead by a further two points. It meant York were still three converted tries behind.

When Tom Inman went over for York with three minutes remaining after a great break from Nofoaluma, there was still hope of what would have been an incredible comeback.

However, despite restricting Toulouse in the second half, that kind of come back after the first half showing proved to be too big a task, and the winning run came to an end.

Toulouse: Ashall-Bott, Laguerre, Polsello, Quai-Ward, Ulberg, Lacans, Shorrocks, Roumanos, Marion, Butler, O’Kane, Jussaume, Cator

Subs: Rodriguez, Chan, Toleafoa, Grossemy

18th Player: Wallace

Tries: Shorrocks (8), Polselli (14), Ashall-Bott (25), Ulberg (28), O’Kane (35)

Goals: Shorrocks (5/7)

York: Mata’afa, Bennison, Galeano, Williams, Nofoaluma, Hunter, McShane, Martin, Inman, Va’a, Wood, Field, Thompson

Subs: (all used) Balmforth, Vaughan, Dee, Hingano

18th Player: Foster

Tries: Field (48), Wood (52), Williams (57), Inman (77)

Goals: Bennison (3/4)

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