York Knights 38-14 Toulouse Olympique: Match Report
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York Knights picked up their third win in Betfred Super League, with a 38-14 win over Toulouse Olympique at the LNER Community Stadium.
Winger, Scott Galeano scored a hat-trick, and Paul Vaughan picked up a brace of tries in what was the first meeting between the sides since last year’s Championship Grand Final.
Kieran Buchanan also scored as the Knights hit Olympique with two tries in three minutes in the second half to build an unassailable lead, and beat Toulouse at home for the first time since 2013.
The Knights asserted their physicality early in the game, and that laid the platform for a vital win in what was a bottom of the table clash.
Early pressure paid off and after back to back sets, a quick play the ball allowed Paul McShane, on his 400th career appearance, to send Paul Vaughan in for his first of the night. Cody Hunter added the first of seven goals.
Galeano went close before McShane combined with Vaughan again, this time putting a kick in behind the defence for the prop to gather and score.
It was turning into a dominant first half for Mark Applegarth’s side, but with just minutes of the half left, Toulouse got off the mark to reduce the deficit to one score. After a penalty gave them position, Thomas Lacans showed some good footwork to gallop through a hole in the York defence. Cesar Rouge converted.
However, York soon opened up the gap between the sides again. This time, Galeano couldn’t be denied, taking a looping pass from Hunter in space to score and build a 12 point lead at the break.
The first try of the second half looked like being crucial, and Toulouse looked a better side after the break, playing with more speed and momentum.
It was an incredible piece of skill from Jesse Dee led to that vital try going to York. Hunter kicked through to spark a scramble in goal. Dee won the chase and acrobatically flicked the ball from the touchline back towards the supporting Galeano, who in the end had an easy touchdown.
When Olympique winger, Paul Ulberg couldn’t take a high ball 20 metres out from his own line, McShane collected and Kieran Buchanan saw the space to go in for the Knights for their second try in almost as many minutes. With a conversion then a penalty from Hunter, York were 26 points ahead with 15 minutes remaining.
Toulouse rallied again as the game became scrappy, and Henry O’Kane crashed over from close range. Again, that try was cancelled out, when Galeano got his third after good work from Hunter in the build up.
Mathieu Jussaume got the last try of the game after Toulouse had back to back sets on York’s line, but it was a Knights performance that deserved the win.
York: Nofoaluma, Galeano, Wood, Buchanan, Bennison, Hingano, Hunter, Martyn, McShane, Vaughan, Field, Dee, Littlewood
Subs: Balmforth, Va'a, Cook, Griffin
18th Player: Sangare
Tries: Vaughan (9, 18), Galeano (38, 55, 72), Buchanan (57)
Goals: Hunter (7/7)
Toulouse: Ashall-Bott, Laguerre, Polselli, Rennie, Ulberg, Rouge, Lacans, Belmas, Hands, Butler, Jussaume, O'Kane, Marion
Sunds: Gillam, Chan, Roumanos, Wallace
18th Player: Rodriguez
Tries: Lacans (34), O'Kane (67), Jussaume (75)
Goals: Rouge (1/3)
