Huddersfield off bottom with win over Toulouse

Betfred Super League

Toulouse (6) 10

Tries: Hands, Jussaume Goals: Shorrocks

Huddersfield (22) 26

Tries: Halsall 2, Greenwood, Wrench Goals: Flanagan 5

Huddersfield Giants continued their mini-revival with a fourth win in a row by deservedly beating Toulouse Olympique 26-10 at Stade Ernest-Wallon.

Sam Halsall scored twice in the victory as the Giants leapfrogged Bradford Bulls to climb off the bottom of the Super League standings.

The Giants have now won more games in the past three weeks than they have in the rest of the season.

Conversely, tenth-placed Toulouse have lost four matches in a row as their first Super League campaign since 2022 appears to be fizzling out following three consecutive wins prior to their recent slump.

Huddersfield dominated the opening stages and wing Halsall broke the deadlock, running in unopposed in the left corner to finish off a slick move before Brendan Hands’ try pulled Toulouse level.

Influential half-back Jake Shorrocks limped off for the home side with a worrying-looking injury and, soon after, the Giants restored their advantage through Halsall’s second, an acrobatic finish in the corner.

Joe Greenwood extended the visitors’ advantage, receiving a short ball from Harry Rushton to power over from close range, before Connor Wrench burst through on the attacking right edge for Huddersfield’s fourth try before half-time.

The Giants had to play half of the second period with 12 men, firstly after Tristan Powell was shown a yellow card, and then because of Taane Milne’s professional foul 16 minutes later, but they saw out the match comfortably and added to the scoreline through a George Flanagan penalty kick.

Toulouse’s top try-scorer this season Mathieu Jussaume pulled a try back late on but it proved to be just a consolation as Flanagan slotted a second penalty kick with 30 seconds remaining.

Toulouse: Polselli; Laguerre, Tropis, Jussaume, Ulberg; Lacans, Shorrocks; Butler, Hands, Roumanos, O’Kane, Grossemy, Cator.

Interchanges: Marion, Chan, Belmas, Toleafoa.

Huddersfield: Flanagan; Halsall, Wrench, Gagai, Milne; Clune, Lolohea; Rogers, Woolford, King, Hewitt, Dunford, Rushton.

Interchanges: Powell, Greenwood, Cozza, Geyer.

Sin-bin: Powell (48 mins), Milne (64 mins).

Referee: Ryan Cox.