19 Mar 2022

Toulouse upset reigning champions St Helens

Newly promoted Toulouse Olympique won their first game of the 2022 Betfred Super League season with a huge upset 22-20 against reigning champions St Helens.

Matty Russell scored inside the first minute to get the French side off to the perfect start but the visitors soon closed the gap through Tommy Makisnon’s effort.

Josh Simm’s try six minutes later put St Helens ahead before Toulouse replied immediately via former Saint Dominique Peyroux to regain a four-point lead.

However, Kristian Woolf’s side went into the break with a narrow lead as Jack Welsby crossed after 32 minutes with Lewis Dodd’s conversion giving his side a two-point lead.

Dan Norman went over early in the second half to give St Helens control of the game.

But, with 12 minutes remaining, former Wigan man Chris Hankinson found the line for the French outfit and his conversion pulled Sylvain Houles’ side within two points.

A late Paul Marcon try would give Toulouse a narrow two-point lead, but the newly promoted side would hold out and earn their first win of the season.

Toulouse Olympique: Olly Ashall-Bott, Matty Russell, Chris Hankinson, Guy Armitage, Paul Marcon; Tony Gigot, Lucas Albert; Joe Bretherton, Anthony Marion, Justin Sangare, Andrew Dixon, Dominique Peyroux, Maxime Puech.

Interchanges: Eloi Pelissier, Harrison Hansen, Mitch Garbutt, Joseph Paulo.

St Helens: Jack Welsby, Josh Simm, Konrad Hurrell, Mark Percival, Tommy Makinson; Jonny Lomax, Lewis Dodd; Matty Lees, Joey Lussick, Angatius Paasi, Curtis Sironen, Morgan Knowles, Louie McCarthy-Scarsbrook.

Interchanges: James Roby, Kyle Amor, Jake Wingfield, Dan Norman.

Betfred Super League Results:

Thursday 17 March