Toulouse Withstand Hull FC Fightback to Claim 44-30 Super League Win

Toulouse held off a forceful Hull FC comeback to earn a 44-30 home victory in the Betfred Super League on Friday. BBC Sport reported that the result was Toulouse's third consecutive win and ensured the French club will finish above Hull in the standings when the regular season concludes next week.

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The hosts built a commanding 30-0 lead during a one-sided first half, crossing five times without reply. Thomas Lacans created both of Henry O'Kane's tries, while Luke Polselli completed a sweeping move that began around 10 metres from the Toulouse try-line. James Roumanos and Paul Ulberg also scored before the interval as Hull struggled to contain the home attack.

Hull produced a markedly different performance after halftime. Three converted tries in an eight-minute stretch cut the deficit to 12 points and brought the visitors back into contention. Aidan Sezer and Lewis Martin each scored twice across the match, while Logan Moy supplied Hull's other try. Sezer converted five goals but also spent 10 minutes in the sin bin.

The comeback stalled when Harvie Hill received a yellow card for striking Lambert Belmas. Cesar Rouge then scored an individual try for Toulouse, easing the pressure on the hosts after Hull's rapid scoring burst. Olly Ashall-Bott, returning to the Toulouse side following an injury absence, added the team's seventh and final try. Rouge kicked eight goals to complete Toulouse's 44-point total.

The win lifted Toulouse to eighth place, above fellow French side Catalans Dragons. That order could change again if Catalans beat York Knights on Saturday. For Hull, the defeat left them among four teams tied on 14 points at the bottom of the table, although their stronger points difference placed them 11th within that group.

Hull will finish their campaign away to Leeds Rhinos on September 11. Leeds will enter that fixture in pursuit of the League Leaders' Shield, while Hull will try to carry the improvement shown after halftime into their final game. Toulouse, meanwhile, have secured both a third straight victory and the certainty of ending the regular season ahead of Friday's opponents.