ST HELENS 0 TOULOUSE OLYMPIQUE 46
DAVE PARKINSON, BrewDog Stadium, Sunday

TOULOUSE followed their outstanding Magic Weekend victory over Catalans with another excellent performance at St Helens, who may have been short-handed but were ruthlessly put to the sword.

Olympique ran in eight tries including a hat-trick for Mathieu Jussaume and dominated from the start on the back of another sparkling performance from fullback Olly Ashall-Bott.

Benjamin Laguerre’s final try ensured they broke their record margin of victory in Super League for the second week in succession, and with a sixth win of the season they have surpassed the tally from their previous top-flight campaign of 2022.

For St Helens, a long injury list can’t fully excuse a defeat so comprehensive that they have fallen out of the play-off places altogether, replaced by Leigh.

Saints made an error on their first set and points soon followed when Jake Shorrocks, who converted five of Toulouse’s eight tries as well as kicking two penalties, took the ball to the line and Jussaume forced his way over.

The away side continued their strong start and when Shorrocks found Ashall-Bott, he evaded a high tackle and his quick feet saw him dash inside the home ten before Jussaume trailed his inside to collect his second try.

Olympique marched straight back down the ground on their next set, winning a penalty to set up more promising field position. Henry O’Kane drove to the 30 and Saints were struggling to contain the visitors’ pace of movement, conceding a set restart and then a penalty which Shorrocks despatched goalward after 18 minutes for a 0-14 advantage.

The water break gave Saints an opportunity to reset but Jack Welsby cut a frustrated figure as their attack fell apart, while a penalty for an off-the-ball tackle on Shorrocks was converted by the halfback after 29 minutes.

Into the last minute of the half, Toulouse continued their strong performance when Ashall-Bott took control on the last play, grubber kicking behind the Saints defence. The bounce evaded Owen Dagnall and O’Kane took the bounce for a 20-point lead at the break.

Committed defence from the visitors held Saints at bay early in the second half with Hull FC loanee Jed Cartwright, Joe Shorrocks and Welsby denied. 

With 49 minutes played Toulouse cut loose again as John Toleafoa found an offload, Ashall-Bott shot through the middle and Tiaki Chan scored to the side of the posts. 

Saints threatened a couple of minutes later but Laguerre tacked across to put Dagnall in touch. An intercept from Tristan Sailor then put them on the front foot but after being contained, Toulouse hit their hosts for a further try with Jussaume taking a bouncing ball and Ashall-Bott popping the ball over the top for Paul Ulberg.

Three more tries followed in the final twelve minutes as Saints wilted in the sunshine, the first of them coming when Anthony Marion ducked to the right and sent an unmarked Roméo Tropis over wide out.

And after Jussaume completed his hat-trick, Marion, Thomas Lacans and Luke Polselli worked superbly to get Laguerre in for a score wide out.

GAMESTAR: Olly Ashall-Bott was a joy to watch, gliding across the field, creating space and opportunities for others throughout.

GAMEBREAKER: Tiaki Chan’s try at the start of the second half broke the Saints resolve.

HIGHLIGHT REEL: Mathieu Jussaume’s hat-trick score saw him take a brilliant pass from Olly Ashall-Bott.

ALBERT GOLDTHORPE POINTS
3 pts Olly Ashall-Bott (Toulouse)
2 pts Mathieu Jussaume (Toulouse)
1 pt Anthony Marion (Toulouse)

MATCHFACTS

SAINTS
1 Jack Welsby
24 Owen Dagnall
3 Harry Robertson
25 Nene Macdonald
26 Jacob Douglas
6 Tristan Sailor
31 Jackson Hastings
14 Jacob Host
23 Jake Burns
35 Daniel Suluka-Fifita
40 Jed Cartwright (D)
28 Jake Davies
22 Joe Shorrocks
Subs (all used)
11 Curtis Sironen
30 Tom Humphreys
38 Matty Evans
39 Chris Matagi
18th man (not used)
34 Cole Marsh
Also in squad
12 Shane Wright
29 Alfie Sinclair
– Billy Keeley

OLYMPIQUE
1 Olly Ashall-Bott
5 Benjamin Laguerre
25 Luke Polselli
19 Roméo Tropis
2 Paul Ulberg
6 Thomas Lacans
7 Jake Shorrocks
10 James Roumanos
9 Brendan Hands
17 Rob Butler
22 Henry O’Kane
12 Mathieu Jussaume
15 Joe Cator
Subs (all used)
13 Anthony Marion
30 Tiaki Chan
40 John Toleafoa
41 Louis Grossemy (D)
18th man (not used)
21 Ellis Gillam
Also in 21-man squad
8 Lambert Belmas
29 César Rougé
39 Ethan Quai-Ward

Tries: Jussaume (2, 13, 74), O’Kane (39), Chan (49), Ulberg (57), Tropis (69), Laguerre (78)
Goals: Shorrocks 7/10

SCORING SEQUENCE: 0-6, 0-12, 0-14, 0-16, 0-20; 0-26, 0-30, 0-34, 0-40, 0-46

Rugby Leaguer & League Express Men of the Match
Saints: Curtis Sironen; Olympique: Olly Ashall-Bott

Penalty count: 4-9
Half-time: 0-20
Referee: Aaron Moore