York’s second-half surge not enough in France
York Knights fell to a narrow defeat against in-form Toulouse Olympique, going down 30-22 at Stade Ernest-Wallon despite a spirited revival after the interval. The hosts raced into a 28-0 half-time lead before York hit back with three tries in quick succession, forcing Toulouse to grind out the win late on.
Toulouse, who arrived on the back of thumping victories over Catalans Dragons (60-18) and St Helens (46-0), looked set for another procession as five first-half tries left York with a mountain to climb. The Knights, however, rediscovered the resolve that had delivered recent successes against Hull FC, Huddersfield Giants and Castleford Tigers, closing to within a score before the French side held firm.
First-half blitz by Toulouse
Half-back Jake Shorrocks put Toulouse on the board early with a penalty and then crossed for the opening try, capitalising on a line break and inside pass that split York’s defence. Further scores from Luke Polselli, Olly Ashall-Bott, Paul Ulberg and Henry O’Kane stretched the home advantage, with Shorrocks adding the extras to each to complete a clinical opening 40 minutes.
York struggled to settle during that opening spell, frequently turned around by Toulouse’s tempo and invention in good-ball areas. The damage left the Knights chasing the game at the break, but the response after the restart was immediate and purposeful.
Knights hit back to make a contest
After the resumption, York injected pace and accuracy. Tries from Oli Field, Sam Wood and Nikau Williams arrived in short order, each converted by Josh Bennison, trimming the gap to single figures and turning the contest on its head for a spell. Toulouse, rattled by the shift in momentum, steadied when Shorrocks landed another penalty to create breathing space.
Even then, York refused to fade. Tom Inman crossed late on to set up a tense finish, but the hosts closed out the remaining minutes to extend their hot streak. The Knights departed France reflecting on what might have been, having come close to salvaging a remarkable result after a bruising first half.
Scorers and key moments
| Team | Tries | Goals |
|---|---|---|
| Toulouse Olympique | Shorrocks, Polselli, Ashall-Bott, Ulberg, O’Kane | Shorrocks 5 (incl. penalties) |
| York Knights | Field, Wood, Williams, Inman | Bennison 3 |
Shorrocks’ influence was telling on a night when Toulouse’s attack again found fluency. The playmaker, who signed a new two-year deal earlier in the week, dictated much of the first-half rhythm and contributed with the boot in the second to blunt York’s surge.
What it means for York
The defeat halts York’s sequence of three straight wins, but the manner of the comeback will offer encouragement. The Knights proved they can trouble one of the competition’s form sides away from home, particularly with ball in hand after the interval. Addressing the early defensive lapses will be a clear focus as the season tightens and every point matters.
Supporters who travelled to Toulouse — and those watching from York — witnessed a performance of two halves: a reminder of the levels required to live with the Super League’s sharpest attacks, and a demonstration of York’s capacity to respond when a game seems out of reach.
The bigger picture
- Toulouse have now followed comprehensive wins over Catalans and St Helens with another victory, underlining their current momentum.
- York’s second-half four-try haul shows attacking combinations are bedding in; ensuring a stronger start will be the priority.
- The Knights’ recent victories against Hull FC, Huddersfield Giants and Castleford Tigers remain a solid platform despite this setback.
York will take the positives from a rousing second half and the lessons from a punishing first. On another night, the fightback might have been enough. As it was, the damage inflicted before the break proved decisive, with Toulouse edging home by eight points.
