Toulouse victorious over Oyonnax in Champions Cup
Last Updated: 22/11/15 10:45pm
Toulouse recorded the first win of their European Rugby Champions Cup campaign with a 24-18 home victory over Oyonnax.
The hosts recovered from their opening-round defeat at the hands of Saracens but were made to work hard for their four points by their French rivals.
Oyonnax went into the break 6-3 ahead through the boot of fly-half Regis Lespinas before three second-half tries from Timoci Matanavou, Maxime Medard and Gael Fickou secured the win for Toulouse.
Tries from Silvere Tian and Fabian Cibray in the final stages of the game were too little, too late for Oyonnax, but secured them a precious losing bonus point on the road.
The away side started the brighter of the two teams when Lespinas kicked two easy penalties after periods of sustained pressure and an upper hand at the scrum.
Toulouse soon showed what a danger they can pose in attack, a quick tap and go by Jean-Marc Doussain caught the Oyonnax defenders and Luke McAlister got the home side's scoreboard ticking.
A sustained period of attack for Toulouse looked to have paid off when Neemia Tialata crossed in the corner. However, Oyonnax breathed a sigh of relief when the TMO was called into play and highlighted the big right hand of Louis Picamoles knocking the ball on in the build-up.
Both sides had periods of possession as the first half ticked into the final stages but unforced errors stopped either side from capitalising, giving Oyonnax the three-point lead going into the break.
The first try of the game came three minutes into the second half. A penalty kick to the corner set up a rampant Toulouse maul before the backs were released and Matanavou darted through a gap in the Oyonnax defence to dot down under the posts.
The try sparked further Toulouse attacks but a series of mis-thrown lineouts by hooker Christopher Tolofua blighted the home side's dominance and allowed Oyonnax to hang on.
Toulouse continued their persistent attack on the Oyonnax defenders as the game entered into the final quarter. Picamoles fended off a tackle by Soane Tonga'huia to go close. The No 8 was hauled down inches short from the line before the Toulouse backline was called into play and Medard ended the move with a dazzling finish.
Oyonnax got themselves right back into the match at the Stade Ernest-Mallon with just eight minutes remaining. A poor kick and speculative defence from the Toulouse midfield allowed Tian to power through the defence and the opposition 22, before he released Vincent Martin who finished off the move, making the score 17-11.
Toulouse looked to have secured the victory when Fickou burst through a gap in the defence and swerved his way to the tryline but Oyonnax were intent on having the last word. Cibray capitalised on an offload too many from the Toulouse attack to race away down the touchline unopposed to score and secure the losing bonus point on the road for Oyonnax.
