Wakefield 18-6 Toulouse: Trinity claim first win of the season

Wakefield picked up their first win of the Super League season with an 18-6 win over Toulouse, who remain rooted to the foot of the table.

Just two points separated the teams heading into the break as Guy Armitage quickly responded to Liam Hood’s opening try for the hosts before Brad Walker’s penalty gave Wakefield an 8-6 lead at the interval at the Be Well Support Stadium.

Kelepi Tanginoa then scored an early second-half try before Corey Hall finished well late on to seal a much-needed victory for Wakefield.

Match report

Buoyed by a lively crowd, the hosts looked brightest in the early stages and created the first half chance of the game when Walker almost got on the end of a Mason Lino kick which bounced nicely in-goal before it was knocked behind by Toulouse.

Trinity were causing all sorts of problems for the French side and after Matty Ashurst threatened to get in down the right, Wakefield switched in field after a succession of tackles for Hood to go over the whitewash from dummy-half in the 13th minute. Walker added the extras to put the hosts 6-0 to the good.

The visitors did not take long to respond, and after a well-worked move down the right, Toulouse top try scorer Armitage crossed for his fourth try of the campaign just one minute later but Chris Hankinson failed to convert.

Both sides started to go forward with intent. The visitors got on level terms when Hankinson corrected his radar to convert a penalty to make it 6-6.

Toulouse settled into the contest and almost crossed the whitewash after a combination between Lucas Albert and Andrew Dixon broke them free, but Eddie Battye was on hand to intercept the final crucial pass.

On the stroke of half-time, Trinity took the lead when winger Tom Johnstone was impeded following a sublime run and referee Tom Grant pulled play back when Battye failed to cross and Walker sent the penalty between the sticks to give the hosts a narrow 8-6 lead heading into the break.

HT: Wakefield Trinity 8-6 Toulouse Olympique

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Much like the first half, Wakefield started on the front foot. With 44 minutes on the clock, Tanginoa barged over the line after some early pressure.

Walker maintained his 100% kicking record for the night by adding the extras to make it 14-6.

Toulouse attacks in the second half were few and far between. They failed to pierce the Wakefield defence as the game headed into its final quarter.

Wakefield extended their advantage to 12 points with eight minutes left. Centre Hall dived over following a spell of pressure. Walker missed his first conversion of the evening but that was not to deny Trinity an important victory.

FT: Wakefield Trinity 18-6 Toulouse Olympique

Wakefield: Escare; Johnstone, Hall, Lyne, Kay; Walker, Lino; Fifita, Hood, Arona, Ashurst, Pitts, Batchelor. Subs: Battye, Tanginoa, Whitbread, Bowes.

Tries: Hood, Tanginoa, Hall Goals: Walker 3

Toulouse: Ashall-Bott; Marcon, Armitage, Hankinson, Russell; Gigot, Albert; Bretherton, Pelissier, Hansen, Stefani, Dixon, Marion. Subs: Peyroux, Sangare, Puech, Robson.

Tries: Armitage Goals: Hankinson 1

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