Wakefield Trinity 40 Toulouse 22: Four-try Johnstone avoids nervous end to Toulouse tie

THE final score, 40-22, suggests Wakefield Trinity Wildcats eased into the quarter-finals of the Ladbrokes Challenge Cup, but the reality was rather different.
Wakefields Jacob Miller crashes over for a try against French side Toulouse in the Challenge Cup.Wakefields Jacob Miller crashes over for a try against French side Toulouse in the Challenge Cup.
Wakefields Jacob Miller crashes over for a try against French side Toulouse in the Challenge Cup.

Wakefield coach Chris Chester paid respect to Toulouse Olympique by fielding a strong lineup and his caution was justified as the French visitors proved far more competitive than their status in League One indicated.

The Super League team played at a different level in the opening quarter, when they scored four tries to open a 22-0 lead.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

At that stage Toulouse could not handle the pace of the game, but gradually they got into it and for the rest of the tie, other than the final seven minutes, they were the better team.

After their early burst, Wakefield did not score again for 42 minutes, by which time Toulouse had cut the gap to 12 points.

And even after Wakefield had calmed their fans’ nerves with a fifth try, the visitors refused to give in.

Two more touchdowns made it 28-22 inside the final 10 minutes and a shock looked on the cards, until winger Tom Johnstone pounced on an error by Tony Maurel to go over for his hat-trick score.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

Then, with seconds remaining, Craig Hall stole the ball from Gavin Marguerite and sent Johnstone in for his fourth and a sixth conversion from Liam Finn completed the scoring.

Tired errors contributed to Wakefield regaining control in the final stages, but it was a hugely impressive effort by Toulouse, who are hoping to gain promotion to the Championship this year and have long-term aspirations for Super League

Wakefield will travel to Huddersfield Giants in the last-eight. That is a tie they are capable of winning, but it will take a much improved performance, as Chester acknowledged afterwards.

He said: “I was disappointed with our attitude, our line speed and our defence, especially our short-side defence.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

“We need to be better. If that had been a Super League side, I think they might have turned us over.”

Chester admitted to being nervous before the game and at half-time, when he used some “choice words” in an attempt to wake his side from their slumbers.

“I thought they out-enthused us in the last 10-15 minutes of the first half,” said the coach, who guided Hull KR to Wembley last year.

“But if you had said to me before the game you’re going to be in the next round, I’d have taken it. I am delighted we are in the quarter-finals.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

“We want to progress as far as we possibly can, but we know we will need to improve on what we did [yesterday].

“We weren’t very good with the ball. We coughed up far too much possession and thought defensively we weren’t all on the same page.

“But we will get better and we are in the quarter-finals, that’s all that matters. “

He added: “Who knows what can happen in this competition? We don’t fear anybody, we just need a bit of luck in this competition.”

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

Johnstone crossed twice either side of touchdowns by Jacob Miller and Hall early on, before Marguerite and Mourad Kriouache pulled tries back for Toulouse to make it 22-10 at the interval.

Matty Ashurst gave Wakefield some breathing space, but Danny Hulme and Kuni Minga went over and Mark Kheirallah took his tally of conversions to three before Johnstone’s late brace spared the Super League team’s blushes.

Toulouse coach Sylvain Houles, who had a stint at Trinity in his playing days, said: “I’m extremely proud of the boys because we pushed them to the limit.”

Wakefield Trinity Wildcats: Jowitt, Jones-Bishop, Walton, Hall, Johnstone, Miller, Finn, England, Howarth, Arona, Kirmond, Ashurst, Sio. Substitutes: Simon, Crowther, Yates, Anderson.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

Toulouse Olympique XIII: Kheirallah, Maurel, Marguerite, White, Minga, Ford, Hulme, Boyer, K Bentley, Canet, Planas, Curran, Marion. Substitutes: Krioache, Puech, Masselot, Hepi.

Referee: C Kendall (Huddersfield).