York Knights 8-10 Toulouse Olympique: Grand Final Match Report

York Knights fell at the final hurdle, losing the Betfred Championship Grand Final 10-8 to Toulouse Olympique at the LNER Community Stadium.

The Knights scored the only tries in the game, but were undone by five successful penalties from Toulouse half back, Jake Shorrocks.

The whole match was a tight affair, with just two points in it at the break.

However, despite a huge defensive effort the Knights couldn’t get the points late in the second half to go on and take the win.

The match started at full throttle, and it was the visitors who settled quickly and had the better of the early possession, testing the Knights defence. They opened the scoring with the first of Shorrocks' penalties, kicked from 40 metres out in blustery conditions.

The first try came soon after from York. Paul McShane charged down a kick on the Toulouse 10 metre line and in the next set, the ball was moved wide for Toa Mata’afa to score. Harris couldn’t land the touchline conversion.

Moments later, it was all square. An error from the kick off set Toulouse up near York’s line, and when a penalty for a high tackle was awarded, Shorrocks was again on target with the kick.

It was turning into an end to end affair, with York coming close to a second try when Kieran Hudson followed up an Ata Hingano grubber, only for the ball to go dead.

The game continued in the same way until just before the break when a collision led to both sides coming together. After the officials intervened, captains were spoken to and the incident was put on report, with the penalty awarded to Olympique. Another penalty for a high tackle followed and Shorrocks put Toulouse ahead from in front of the posts. They took that narrow lead into half time.

The second half started with an edgy feel, as both teams made handling errors. However, it was some slick handling that led to York regaining a narrow advantage. They swiftly shipped it right to find Kieran Buchanan in space to dot down. Again, it was too far out for Harris to convert.

It was another penalty on the York line that allowed Toulouse to level things again. This time, the Knights were adjudged to have stolen the ball and Shorrocks didn’t waste the chance to tie the scores once more.

Another flashpoint occurred as Harris appeared to be taken high, with play already stopped for a late challenge on Ollie Ashall-Bott. Again, the officials stepped in and spoke to the captains, with the penalty given to Toulouse in kicking range. Shorrocks nudged them ahead again with 15 minutes remaining.

As chances came to build pressure, errors were still creeping in preventing York from getting any real chances to snatch it. However their defence, which had been strong all game, kept working hard to keep the try line intact.

However, discipline and errors meant York couldn’t find those points they needed as the clock ticked down, denying them a third trophy in what has been a memorable season.

York: Mata’afa, Jones-Bishop, Buchanan, Field, Galeano, Hingano, Harris, Martin, McShane, Antrobus, Dee, Bailey, Thompson

Subs (all used): Santi, Cook, Hudson, Clark

18th Player: Richardson

Tries: Mata’afa (12), Buchanan (51)

Goals: Harris (0/2)

Toulouse: Ashall-Bott, Marcon, Tropis, Rennie, Ulberg, Lacans, Shorrocks, Belmas, Hands, Butler, Stefani, Jussaume, Marion

Subs (all used): Cator, Roumanos, Bretherton, Wallace

18th Player: Gillam

Tries: None

Goals: Shorrocks (5/5)

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