Hunslet left the South of France defeated but not bowed last Saturday (22 March 2025) after a 50-6 defeat to Toulouse Olympique at the Stade Ernest-Wallon.
The Parksiders were underdogs against a full-time Toulouse side who had beaten Bradford Bulls two weeks previously 36-4.
The hosts scored on only 5 minutes when a Hunslet defender shot out of the line and quick passing sent Benjamin Laguerre in the right corner (although the winger looked to have knocked-on). Jake Shorrocks converting 6-0, but the visitors were level 7 minutes later when after an Alfie Goddard break, Billy Jowitt put a short kick through and with the Toulouse defence waiting for the ball to roll dead Jimmy Watson crept up to touch down. Jowitt converting 6-6.
A quarter of the game gone and Hunslet were under the pump, but still in the match. A deep kick was fielded by Olly Ashall-Bott, who broke through and slipped a Jimmy Watson tackle to score. 12-6
Four minutes later Rob Butler wrestled his way over, despite seeming to be held up and Toulouse led 18-6.
Although Hunslet looked to get back into the match they couldn’t put a move together. Harvey Hallas made good yards and Noah Booth looked dangerous, whilst Billy Jowitt was tricky, but with only a minute to the break and after defending well Hunslet succumbed on the last tackle as Toulouse threw the ball out wide for Benjamin Laguerre to get his second try. 22-6 at the break.
The second half started fairly evenly. Hunslet defended well, but couldn’t open up the Toulouse defence as Fletcher kicked dead and Jordan Syme was held up.
On 56 minutes the tiredness started to show as Paul Ulberg scored a simple try from a scrum to make it 26-6.
On 61 minutes Toulouse scored a controversial try as a kick to the corner was flicked back inside for Mathieu Jussaume to score. The touch judge talking the referee around. 30-6
The game now lost for Hunslet it was damage limitation as Toulouse looked to open up. But the French side added two more quick tries to finish Hunslet off.
Ulberg picked up the first in the left corner then Laguerre made it a hat trick after a break down the right carved open Hunslet.
Kevin Larroyer was sin-binned against his old club to leave Hunslet down to 12 men for the remaining ten minutes, and on 75 minutes a Billy Jowitt kick landed in open space, leading to broken play which saw Olly Ashall-Bott break through and feed Laguerre for his fourth try of the afternoon.
Paul Marcon picked up a late try on the hooter to make it 50-6 with Jake Shorrocks converting his fifth conversion of the afternoon.
In parts Hunslet defended well and had chances to get back into the game. But missing big playmakers like Matty Beharrell and Cam Berry as well as a host of other injured players doesn’t help.
Billy Jowitt impressed in the half-back roll, whilst Noah Booth and Liam Welham were dangerous. There were also good debuts for Coby Nichol and Harrison Gilmore.
The Hunslet support was loud and proud as they look to rack up more miles after Barrow and Toulouse with a Saturday trip next week to London Broncos. (29 March).
Toulouse Olympique: Ashall-Bott, Laguerre, Marcon, Tropis, Ulberg, Marion, Shorrocks, Roumanos, Gahan, Butler, Jussaume, Stefani, Cator. Interchange: Belmas, Rodriguez, Gillam, Lacans.
Hunslet RLFC: Eden, Nicol, Booth, Goddard, Watson, Hanneghan, Jowitt, Larroyer, Corbett, Foster, Wood, Welham, Fletcher. Interchange: Hallas, Syme, O’Hanlon, Gilmore.
Photo: Romeo Tropis being tackled by Liam Welham and Noah Booth. Credit: Fabriqe Aygalenq
