HUDDERSFIELD GIANTS 16 TOULOUSE OYLMPIQUE 36
CALLUM WALKER, FLAIR Stadium, Dewsbury, Saturday

IT was c’est bien for Toulouse as a Mathieu Jussaume-inspired performance saw the French side take two vital points back to the continent.

After the visitors hit the front on four minutes, they never looked like relinquishing the lead with Jussaume and a tremendous kicking performance from Jake Shorrocks laying the platform for a big win in the race to avoid Super League’s wooden spoon.

It was all change for Huddersfield as Jim Lenihan tinkered with his squad, with Connor Wrench, George Flanagan, Tom Burgess, Kieran Rush, Matty English and Asher O’Donnell all coming in.

Meanwhile, John Toleafea made his Toulouse debut as Jussaume and Joe Bretheron replaced Maxime Stefani and Tiaki Chan.

It was the battle of basement with Toulouse winning just three times and Huddersfield twice, but the French side were stronger from the start, Henry O’Kane latching on to a neat César Rougé grubber with just four minutes gone. Shorrocks converted for a 4-0 lead.

After weathering that early storm, a penalty for offside handed the Giants their own opportunity to post points and Tui Lolohea’s neat stab through was pounced upon by Joe Greenwood. Toulouse still remained in front though as Flanagan sent the conversion wide.

A brilliant Olly Ashall-Bott run and flick pass almost yielded points but two six-agains finally saw Toulouse grab their second with Paul Ulberg stepping back inside for a great finish. Shorrocks made it 12-4 after 15 minutes.

Toulouse lost their Captain’s Challenge when James Roumanos lost possession, but a Brendan Hands 40/20 elevated the visitors’ momentum as Jussaume strode through a huge gap in the next set.

Another penalty saw Toulouse extend their lead to 24-4 with the half-hour in sight, Shorrocks’ beautiful grubber pounced on by Ethan Quai-Ward for his first try in Olympique colours.

Finally the Giants stemmed the Toulouse tide, Flanagan managing to weave a bit of individual magic to bounce over the whitewash late on in the first half – even if there was a hint of obstruction.

Flanagan’s own conversion meant the Giants trailed by 14 at the break.

That glimmer of hope soon faded immediately following the resumption as Hands’ one-on-one steal on Wrench and Niall Evalds’ knock-on handed Toulouse the chance to strike again.

And the visitors did just that as Jussaume dotted down another Shorrocks kick through for 30-10.

The visitors should have had another when Benjamin Laguerre broke down the left only for Luke Polselli to knock on with the line gaping.

Anthony Marion was sinbinned moments later for a dangerous cannonball tackle on Taane Milne, and the man advantage told when Jacob Gagai stretched over as the hour loomed. Flanagan’s conversion was accurate as Toulouse now led 30-16.

But the Giants were their own worst enemies at times and Lolohea’s failure to find touch with a penalty in the last ten minutes summed up Huddersfield, not just here, but for the entire season.

From that, Ashall-Bott sent O’Kane through for his second. Shorrocks continued his perfect kicking form to make it 36-16.

As time wound down, Rob Butler was put on report for a similar tackle that saw Marion sinbinned in the only two blots in Toulouse’s copybook, but the afternoon belonged to the visitors.

GAMESTAR: Mathieu Jussaume led form the front and registered two tries.

GAMEBREAKER: Jussaume’s second try ensured Huddersfield had to score four times to win.

HIGHLIGHT REEL: Olly Ashall-Bott’s superb break near the end deserved a try.

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

MATCHFACTS

GIANTS
1 Niall Evalds
41 Lee Kershaw
3 Jacob Gagai
34 Connor Wrench
4 Taane Milne
6 Tui Lolohea
21 George Flanagan
10 Tom Burgess
9 Zac Woolford
16 George King
11 Asher O’Donnell
17 Joe Greenwood
13 Harry Rushton
Subs (all used)
8 Tristan Powell
15 Matty English
18 Kieran Rush
23 Chris Patolo
18th man (not used)
20 Mathieu Cozza
Also in 21-man squad
14 Fenton Rogers
40 Cole Geyer
42 Lewis Jagger

Tries: Greenwood (10), Flanagan (36), Gagai (58)
Goals: Flanagan 2/3

OLYMPIQUE
1 Olly Ashall-Bott
5 Benjamin Laguerre
25 Luke Polselli
39 Ethan Quai-Ward
2 Paul Ulberg
29 César Rougé
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
16 Joe Bretherton
20 AJ Wallace
40 John Toleafoa (D)
18th man (not used)
27 Hugo Garrigues
Also in 21-man squad
18 Baptiste Rodriguez
21 Ellis Gillam
30 Tiaki Chan

Tries: O’Kane (4, 71), Ulberg (15), Jussaume (24, 50), Quai-Ward (28)
Goals: Shorrocks 6/6
Sin bin: Marion (55) – dangerous tackle

SCORING SEQUENCE: 0-6, 4-6, 4-12, 4-18, 4-24, 10-24; 10-30, 16-30, 16-36

Rugby Leaguer & League Express Men of the Match
Giants: Lee Kershaw; Olympique: Mathieu Jussaume

Penalty count: 7-4
Half-time: 10-24
Referee: James Vella