Saturday 9 May 2015 21:45, UK
Toulon showed no signs of a hangover after their third consecutive European title with a five-try 37-21 demolition of struggling Castres.
Leigh Halfpenny scored a try, three conversions and two penalties for a personal haul of 17 points as Toulon turned their attention to the defence of their Top 14 title.
It took Toulon 11 minutes to get their first score against their relegation-threatened opponents. A powerful run by Chris Masoe against his old club split the defence, the ball was spun left and English flanker Steffon Armitage was on hand to scramble over the line for a try.
Halfpenny missed the conversion but hit a penalty just minutes later, but Castres replied with a neat try from Romain Martial, who latched onto Julien Dumora’s grubber to touch down in the corner.
However, Toulon hit back immediately. Xavier Chiocci collected Ali Williams’ palm-down from the restart and the prop tore through four attempted tackles to run in for a 30-metre try.
Toulon’s third try arrived on the half hour when Matt Giteau found Halfpenny with a scything pass and the Wales international’s offload sent wing Josua Tuisova over.
Tuisova got his second just three minutes into the second period, enjoying a straight run at the line after a precise Armitage pass.
With temperatures touching 30 degrees at a packed Stade Mayol, both teams flagged and a raft of replacements disrupted the rhythm of the game.
With 15 minutes to play, Halfpenny touched down after the defence failed to ground a Drew Mitchell grubber, the Welshman converting his own effort.
With the game in the bag, Toulon let Castres in for two well-taken consolation scores to lose the bonus point. Rory Kockott crossed from close range and then captain Romain Cabannes did well to finish off a break started by Kockott, with both tries converted by Dumora.
André Moga was given a memorable farewell by Bordeaux-Bègles thanks to Marco Tauleigne's late try.
It was Oyonnax who started the game better than their opponents, with two early penalties from Benjamin Urdapilleta helping them into a 6-0 lead, but Pierre Bernard reduced the deficit with a drop goal for Bordeaux-Bègles.
Bernard then went on to draw his side level with a penalty before Jayden Spence beat two defenders to put Blair Connor in space for the opening try of the game.
With the conversion it was 13-6, before two further penalties from Urdapilleta made it a one-point game after which Bernard and Urdapilleta exchanged penalties either side of the break.
Both teams were reduced to 14 players after yellow cards were shown to Jefferson Poirot and Marc Clerc after a flare up.
Bordeaux went back in front with five minutes to go then sealed the win with Tauleigne's late score, with the effort converted by Beauxis.
That score proved invaluable with Florian Denos scoring with the final play of the game, stealing an invaluable bonus point for Oyonnax.
La Rochelle took a step closer to Top 14 survival thanks to a 16-16 draw at Lyon, while the draw simultaneously relegated their opponents.
Lyon were the first team on the scoreboard thanks to a shot at goal from Jérôme Porical, but it was La Rochelle who were first to cross the whitewash.
After some impressive midfield work from Malietoa Hingano, he found centre partner Levani Botia who sprinted over for the try. A Fabien Fortassin conversion made it 7-3.
Porical missed a kickable penalty soon thereafter, but Lyon retook the lead from a Damien Fitzpatrick try, with Porical converting.
Julien Audy levelled the game late in the half, but Porical was on target again in the final seconds to give Lyon a 13-10 lead as the teams went into the break.
Early in the second half Audy added another penalty for La Rochelle, moving his side level once more.
The kickers once again exchanged efforts, with the final kick rewarding Lyon with a draw.
Montpellier kept their play-off hopes alive thanks to a 33-16 win over Bayonne, securing their place in the Top 14 in the process.
It was Bayonne who got out in front from an early penalty from Santiago Fernandez, but Montpellier responded through their forwards, with Charles Géli crashing over for the first try under the posts on the back of his colleagues’ strong efforts. Ben Lucas converted the try to make it 7-3.
Shortly thereafter Sitaleki Timani was given ten minutes in the bin following a high tackle on Marvin O'Connor.
Lisiate Fa'aoso then took a pass from Guillaume Rouet's and slammed through the defensive line to run in a try. With the conversion it was 10-7 to the visitors.
Fa'aoso went from hero to villain shortly thereafter when he was given ten minutes on the sidelines and Lucas converted the accompanying penalty attempt to draw the sides level at half-time.
The second half was dominated by the home side however, with two François Trinh-Duc drop goals putting his team ahead after a penalty from Fernandez.
After Lucas and Martin Bustos Moyano exchanged three-pointerss, Akapusi Qera went over the line, before Robert Ebersohn sealed it with two minutes remaining.
Yoann Huget's hat-trick helped Toulouse to a huge win over Brive as stake their claim for an automatic semi-final berth.
Toulouse were far too good for their visitors, and ran in nine tries on the night.
Toulouse flew out of the blocks with Huget and Gaetan Germain providing the opening scores. Corey Flynn added a third as the first quarter closed out, but Germain cut the deficit with his second penalty. Maxime Médard went over next before Brive added one of their own through skipper Arnaud Méla.
Early in the second half Germain added two more long-range penalties to make it 32-19, before Médard added Toulouse's fifth try. Brive's task got harder on the hour mark when François Da Ros was yellow carded for an unnecessary trip on Bézy.
Germain soon followed after another Brive infringement, and against 13 men, Toulouse dotted down twice more, through Schalk Ferreira andLouis Picamoles.
And there was still time for Huget to complete his hat-trick in the final seconds, with Flood converting before scoring a try of his own.
