Super League: Toulouse 18-22 Wakefield – Trinity win in France

Wakefield withstood a late Toulouse rally as they battled back from 8-0 down to win and keep up the pressure on Hull KR and Warrington in the Super League.

Daryl Powell’s side scored twice inside five first-half minutes to turn the game around after Toulouse made a flying start in the Stade Ernest Wallon when James Roumanos went over.

Wakefield scored four unanswered tries through Oliver Pratt, Caius Faatili, Jazz Tevaga and Seth Nikotemo, before Josh Rourke was controversially sin-binned to allow Toulouse back into this seesaw game.

Olly Ashall-Bott and Paul Ulberg took full advantage to score inside three minutes before Pratt made a late try-saving tackle on Benjamin Laguerre as Wakefield hung on.

Wakefield have strengthened their grip on fifth with their eighth Super League win of the campaign, while unlucky Toulouse remain next to bottom.

Toulouse began well and Cesar Rouge had a try disallowed because Jay Pitts was taken out in the build-up, before Jake Shorrocks kicked a penalty to give them the lead when Joe Cator was taken out off the ball.

Roumanos extended the home side’s lead on 17 minutes when he cut through the Wakefield defence to crash over, with Shorrocks adding the conversion to make it 8-0.

Jayden Myers had a score disallowed for Wakefield before they crossed the line twice in five minutes. First, Pratt produced a diving finish to touch down one-handed in the corner to half the deficit on 22 minutes.

Then Mason Lino played a great short pass to Faatili, who powered over for his fourth try in two games, with Rourke landing the conversion to put Wakefield ahead 10-8.

Wakefield stretched their lead to 16-8 when Tevaga spun round to score a try converted by Rourke.

Toulouse wasted numerous chances to score and Tiaki Chan failed to hold Ashall-Bott’s pass with the try line beckoning.

Nikotemo powered over after a fine break through the middle by Rourke in the 57th minute and Wakefield looked out of sight.

But then Rourke was sin-binned for a deliberate obstruction and Ashall-Bott went over for his ninth Super League try.

Toulouse turned the screw on Wakefield’s 12 men, and Ulberg scored in acres of space on the right before Pratt kept out Laguerre in the final minutes with a superb tackle.