TOULOUSE OLYMPIQUE 30 YORK KNIGHTS 22
PETER BIRD, Stade Ernest Wallon, Saturday

TOULOUSE made it three wins on the bounce as they continued their great form with a confident display.

York rallied late on to add some tension, but were ultimately left with too much to do after trailing 28-0 at half-time.

The hosts looked the more threatening from the start and when York conceded a cheap penalty close to the posts, Jake Shorrocks duly converted on six minutes.

From the restart, a strong James Roumanos break was well finished off by Shorrocks in good support right of the posts, and Shorrocks again kicked well for an 8-0 lead.

Toulouse were hungry as the visitors looked half-paced in comparison so it was no surprise when the French passed double figures with left centre Luke Polselli finishing off an Olly Ashall-Bott move close to the line. Shorrocks again made no mistake with the conversion.

York offered little and should have been further behind on 20 minutes but right winger Benjamin Laguerre knocked on ten metres out with the tryline begging.

With 15 minutes of the first half remaining the York defence was unable to stop danger man Ashall-Bott from wriggling over from five metres out for another converted try.

More misery for the visitors came on 29 minutes as the men from Yorkshire failed to stop O’Kane, whose perfect pass found Laguerre ten metres out with Paul Ulberg on hand to finish off in the corner.

And there was still time for Toulouse to finish off the perfect half as an Ashall-Bott grubber two metres out bobbled and was eventually touched down by the busy O’Kane. Shorrocks hit the post with the kick.

It was a lively start to the second period and York threatened from the restart. Toulouse defended the first attack well but were unable to prevent second-rower Oli Field crossing over nine minutes in. Jon Bennison made the kick close to the posts.

There was more joy for the visitors six minutes later with Sam Wood, returning from injury, forced his way over on the right side, where Bennison missed the tricky conversion.

York now had all the momentum and looked a different side, and they deservedly scored their third try with 58 minutes on the clock. Centre Nikau Williams was given too much space down the left crossing over with ease, and Bennison kicked confidently from the left touchline to make it 28-16.

Toulouse were really under the cosh, but had a break with 16 minutes remaining when Shorrocks kicked his second penalty of the evening to stretch the gap to three scores.

With three minutes remaining, the visitors reduced the arrears to eight points after an explosive 30-metre dash from left winger David Nofoaluma was finished off by the strong-running Tom Inman to touch down under the posts, where Bennison kicked his third goal.

GAMESTAR: Henry O’Kane was strong in defence and positive in attack.

GAMEBREAKER: Jake Shorrocks’ second penalty kick eased the pressure with York in full flight.

HIGHLIGHT REEL: Henry O’Kane’s crossfield run split the defence for the Paul Ulberg try.

ALBERT GOLDTHORPE POINTS
3 pts Henry O’Kane (Toulouse)
2 pts Jake Shorrocks (Toulouse)
1 pt Jesse Dee (York)

MATCHFACTS

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

Tries: Shorrocks (7), Polselli (13), Ashall-Bott (25), Ulberg (28), O’Kane (35)
Goals: Shorrocks 5/7

KNIGHTS
1 Toa Mata’afa
23 Jon Bennison
5 Scott Galeano
26 Nikau Williams
46 David Nofoaluma
37 Cody Hunter
9 Paul McShane
8 Jack Martin
48 Tom Inman
15 Xavier Va’a
4 Sam Wood
20 Oli Field
13 Jordan Thompson
Subs (all used)
6 Ata Hingano
10 Paul Vaughan
12 Jesse Dee
14 Denive Balmforth
18th man (not used)
27 Matty Foster
Also in 21-man squad
7 Liam Harris
21 Keiran Buchanan
24 Will Dagger

Tries: Field (49), Wood (53), Williams (58), Inman (77)
Goals: Bennison 3/4

SCORING SEQUENCE: 2–0, 8–0, 14–0, 20–0, 24–0, 28–0; 28–6, 28–10, 28–16, 30–16, 30–22

Rugby League & League Express Men of the Match
Olympique: Henry O’Kane; Knights: Jesse Dee

Penalty count: 6-3
Half-time: 28-0
Referee: Chris Kendall
Attendance: 3,450