Toulouse Olympique warmed up for the Betfred Championship play-offs by recording their highest score of 2021 in a fine 82-12 win at Newcastle Thunder on Saturday night.

In a day which saw them presented with the League Leaders’ Shield, their 100 per cent record remained firmly intact, thanks in large part to an impressive 46 second-half points.

Jy Hitchcox scored the first of his four tries just three minutes in, Mark Kheirallah with the first of his 11 conversions to make it 6-0 early on.

The home side did hit back soon after through debutant Nathan Roebuck, Josh Woods with the goal to make it 6-all.

But Toulouse soon regained their advantage as Joe Bretherton went in. Dom Peyroux followed soon after, then Mathieu Jussaume and Justin Sangare ​before Hitcocox completed his hat-trick all before the half time whistle to leave Sylvain Houles’ men 36-6 up at half time.

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👏 @TOXIII get their hands on the @Betfred Championship League Leaders' Shield! pic.twitter.com/b0kDwdlPJu

— Rugby Football League (@TheRFL) September 18, 2021

Though Roebuck managed a second on 55 minutes for Newcastle, Woods improving, it was Toulouse’s day as they found a further eight tries in the second period.

Joseph Paulo kicked things off on 42 minutes before Sangare got his second on 45 minutes, then Bretherton also doubled up just minutes later.

Romain Navarrete was next to steam over on the hour before the impressive Kheirallah got in on the act with 16 minutes left to play.

Jussaume scored again soon after, ahead of an Anthony Marion score with 10 minutes left.

And Hitchcox provided the icing on the League Leaders’ Shield-winning cake with his fourth try of the match as the minutes ticked down to full time.

Toulouse take next weekend off as reward for finishing top, before a play-off semi-final tie on home turf – their first home game of 2021 – on Saturday, October 2.