A final minute drop goal meant York Knights fell to a narrow 7-6 defeat to Toulouse Olympique at the LNER Community Stadium in their first home game of the Betfred Championship season.
In a match played in wet and windy conditions, both sides struggled to get much flow in attack with just a penalty between them at half time.
In the end, it took a drop goal from Jake Shorrocks right on the final whistle to separate them, after only a try each in the game.
After an opening period of errors from both sides, the game eventually started to settle. It became a battle between defences but with Toulouse enjoying the better of possession and territory, they had the best chance to score, only to be held up over the line.
The first points came from a penalty, when Paul McShane had the ball ripped from his grasp inside the Toulouse 10 metre area. Dagger’s kick finally broke the deadlock to put the Knights ahead with 33 minutes played.
With Toulouse building pressure on the Knights line after a barnstorming run from Reubenn Rennie, the half time hooter sounded with only the penalty from Dagger the difference.
The second half started just like the first, with Toulouse looking the brighter. However, there were still errors preventing them from taking advantage of the pressure.
Eventually, the first try came when Knights’ winger Levi Edwards took a long ball out wide from Dee and found space to go in at the corner. It was too far out for Dagger to convert.
Back to back penalties set Toulouse up deep in Knights; territory after some great defensive work from York. However, more strong tackling from Mark Applegarth’s side kept their line in tact.
A knock on from York immediately gave Toulouse possession back from a scrum 10 metres out, and this time the defence couldn’t hold Benjamin Laguerre out. Jake Shorrock’s conversion levelled the scores with 11 minutes remaining.
A late shot from Jack Martin led to a penalty to Olympique on the half way line with four minutes to go. Jake Shorrocks had an attempt at a drop goal from the resulting set, but put it wide.
With a minute to go, Edwards knocked on as Ashall-Bott put a kick through in to space, giving Toulouse a scrum 10 metres out from the York line. Shorrocks launched another attempt at a drop goal, and this time was accurate just as the hooter sounded, to give the visitors a one point win.
York: Dagger, Buchanan, Ferreria, Field, Edwards, Hingano, Dee, Martin, McShane, Santi, Gannon, Bailey, Thompson
Subs (used): Teanby, Cook, Fitzsimmons
(not used): Pemberton
18th Player: Potter
Tries: Edwards (57)
Goals: Dagger (1/2)
Toulouse: Ashall-Bott, Laguerre, Marcon, Rennie, Ulberg, Marion, Shorrocks, Roumanos, Gahan, Butler, Jussaume, Stefani, Cator
Subs (all used): Rodriguez, Bretherton, Richards, Gillam
18th Player: Brochon
Tries: Laguerre (68)
Goals: Shorrocks (1/1)
Drop Goals: Shorrocks (80)
