Toulouse took an early lead in France as they were awarded a penalty after interference at the play the ball, Chris Hankinson slotted the ball through the posts to make it 2-0.
Saints responded well and scored with their next set. Jack Welsby found Morgan Knowles who rounded the Toulouse fullback to grab our first points of the game. Tommy Makinson missed the conversion, 4-2 Saints led.
Our lead was increased a few minutes later. The ball was worked out round the back and the returning Will Hopoate found Makinson who finished in the corner. He was unable to convert his own try, 8-2 we led.
Saints grabbed their third try of the first half as we approached the break. The platform was laid following a good break downfield from Regan Grace. Off the back of it Saints worked the ball right which allowed Konrad Hurrell to make a big break downfield and score under the sticks. Makinson added the two, 14-2.
Toulouse had a good chance to reduce the deficit just before the break. Olly Ashall-Bott made a break downfield but Saints managed to take him down ten metres out as he waited for some support from his team mates. The French side continued their pressure as they forced a goal-line dropout on the back of a penalty. Saints survived the scare though as Grace pushed Matty Russell into touch, 14-2 we led at the break.
Toulouse grabbed the first points of the second half as former Saint Joseph Paulo found Harrison Hansen who went over for the hosts. Hankinson added the two, 14-8 Saints led.
Saints thought they had their fourth try of the game around the hour mark as Hurrell strolled over off the back of a James Roby break, however the referee judged a forward pass. A few minutes later and the referee once again denied the Saints, as he ruled another forward pass as Makinson went over.
They weren’t to be denied for long though. Toulouse dropped the ball in their own territory and from the scrum Saints worked the ball to Jack Welsby who went over to increase our advantage. Makinson added the two, 20-8 we led.
Grace then marked his return to the side with an intercept try under the sticks as Toulouse chanced their arm trying to find a route back into the game. Makinson added the extras, 26-2 we led.
Toulouse responded once again as Hankinson made the most of a gap to score. He converted his own try but his side still trailed 26-14.
Makinson had the chance to put the game to bed as we opted to go for two from a penalty but his effort went wide. Makinson had another chance to tie the game up with another penalty attempt with only a few minutes to go, this time he nailed it to make it 28-14. That was to be the final points of the game as Saints extended their lead at the top of the Betfred Super League table to four points with a 28-14 victory over Toulouse Olympique in France!
Match Summary
Toulouse Olympique Team: Olly Ashall-Bott, Matthew Russell, Chris Hankinson, Mathieu Jussuame, Ilias Bergal, Lucas Albert, Corey Norman, Romain Navarette, Anthony Marion, Daniel Alvaro, Dominique Peyroux, Andrew Dixon, Maxime Puech.
Interchanges: James Cunningham, Harrison Hansen, Justin Sangare, Joseph Paulo.
Tries: Harrison Hansen (44), Chris Hankinson (69)
Conversions: Chris Hankinson (2 from 2)
Penalties: Chris Hankinson (1 from 1)
Saints Team: Will Hopoate, Tommy Makinson, Konrad Hurrell, Sione Mata’utia, Regan Grace, Jack Welsby, Jonny Lomax, Alex Walmsley, James Roby, Matty Lees, Joe Batchelor, Curtis Sironen, Morgan Knowles.
Interchanges: Joey Lussick, Louie McCarthy-Scarsbrook, Agnatius Paasi, James Bell.
Tries: Morgan Knowles (9), Tommy Makinson (16), Konrad Hurrell (33), Jack Welsby (61), Regan Grace (65)
Conversions: Tommy Makinson (3 from 5)
Penalties: Tommy Makinson (1 from 2)
HT: 2-14
FT: 14-28
