Super League: Catalans Dragons 18-60 Toulouse Olympique

Betfred Super League Magic Weekend

Catalans (12) 18

Tries: Leeming, Laguerre, Sexton Goals: Sexton 3

Toulouse (32) 60

Tries: Polselli 2, Hands 2, Jussaume 2, Lacans, Ashall-Bott 2, Ulberg Goals: Shorrocks 10

Toulouse Olympique scored 10 tries as they thumped Catalan Dragons for their first Super League win in the French derby.

Luke Polselli, Mathieu Jussaume, Brendan Hands and Olly Ashall-Bott each scored twice in the only Magic Weekend fixture not taking place at Everton’s Hill Dickinson Stadium.

Thomas Lacans and Paul Ulberg also got on the scoresheet for Toulouse, who led by 20 points at the break, with Jake Shorrocks having a great night with the boot.

It was a sobering night for eighth-placed Catalans, despite tries from Kruise Leeming, Matthieu Laguerre and Toby Sexton, with the defeat denting their hopes of making the play-off places, while Toulouse’s win takes them six points clear of bottom side Huddersfield Giants.

Toulouse broke through inside six minutes when Polselli met a searching kick from Lacans before crossing unchallenged. At the other end, Leeming darted across the line from close range for Catalans, before Nick Cotric caught a kick on the right and fed Matthieu Laguerre, who crossed to strengthen their lead.

The visitors responded with four tries in 12 minutes. First, Hands held his run to stay onside and touch down before Jussaume crossed after the video referee checked for a potential knock-on by Ulberg in the build up.

Ashall-Bott then raced clear before feeding Lacans in front of the posts for a try and Hands proved too strong for the Catalans defence as he exploited a gap to go over.

After the interval, Sexton pulled Catalans right back into it, but Ashall-Bott scored a wonderful individual try in response.

Ulberg crashed over in the corner after a good move before turning provider for Ashall-Bott’s second. Jussaume and Polselli doubled their tallies late on as the try total reached 10, capping a historic night for Toulouse.

Catalans: Staines; Cotric, Laguerre, Faataape, Marc; Sexton, Dodd; Allen, Leeming, Navarrette, Garcia, Lipowicz, Wilson.

Interchanges: Satae, Bousquet, Condon, Lis.

Toulouse: Ashall-Bott; Laguerre, Polselli, Quai-Ward, Ulberg; Lacans, Shorrocks; Roumanos, Hands, Belmas, O’Kane, Jussaume, Cator.

Interchanges: Marion, Chan, Toleafoa, Butler.

Referee: Liam Rush.