Toulouse Olympique smash the Bradford Bulls to continue their unbeaten run

Toulouse Olympique increased their unbeaten record to 13 as they beat Bradford Bulls 60-6.

This was the fifth time that Toulouse had reached 60 points in a game this season.

It was always set up to be a tough test for the Bradford Bulls. The unbeaten record of Toulouse coming into the game was something not to be forgotten.

Toulouse’s quality was shown early on when in the third minute, former Rugby Union player Guy Armitage powered through following Johnathan Ford’s short pass. The home side felt that stand-off Jordan Lilley was hit in the build-up but the incident went unnoticed as Mark Kheirallah added an extra two points following a successful conversion.

Lilley was involved again when he appeared to be punched by a Toulouse player which sparked the first of many brawls in the game.

Not long after, Toulouse got their second try. Bulls winger David Foggin-Johnstone thought he had played Ilias Bergal into touch, however, the Toulouse winger just managed to pass the ball and after a quick switch, the ball found Armitage who used his pace to power through.

The game was stopped for about 12 minutes after a high tackle on the Bulls’ full-back Brandon Pickersgill. He was stretchered off with the incident leading to an injury.

After the stoppage, Toulouse got their third try. Tony Gigot’s cross-field kick found former Bull Jy Hitcock who finished the move. Kheirallah made it a hat-trick of successful conversion as Toulouse sat in a comfortable 18-0 lead.

The French side’s physicality was proving too much for the Bulls. Another try followed as Gigot’s flighted pass over the head of Foggin-Johnstone found Bergal who ran over the line untouched.

Just before the break, Toulouse added a fifth try. Romain Navarette barged his way through to add another and Kheirallah converted again to give his side a 30-0 lead at the half-time interval.

There was no respite for the Bulls in the second half, Justin Sangare’s short-range run added a sixth try as Toulouse ran away with the game.

Shortly after his first, Sangare struck again after he received the ball and burst through, and once again, Kheirallah added an extra two points.

Tempers began to rise and both Sam Hallas and Bergal were sent to the sin bin after a brawl in the midfield. A brief 12 v 12 contest provided the Bulls with an opportunity to get on the scoresheet. George Flanagan burrowed in from dummy half to give his side their first try of the game.

Toulouse’s discipline began to unravel. After Bergal returned to the pitch, Kheirallah’s tip tackle on Thomas Doyle saw him sin-binned.

However, that didn’t stop the league leaders. Gigot’s kick into the in-goal area saw three blue shirts chasing the ball, Mathieu Jussaume applied the finish.

A lightning break provided try number 10 for Toulouse. Armitage intercepted the ball, he passed to Hitchcox who found Kheirallah and with his first involvement after returning from the sin-bin he scored another try for Toulouse.

Kheirallah was soon sent in again by Ford to add another try as his kick made it 60 points and gave Toulouse another comfortable victory against the Bulls.

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