RC Toulon 30-29 Glasgow Warriors

Glasgow Warriors came up just short at the Stade Felix Mayol this evening, yet claimed two valuable bonus-points in a 30-29 defeat at the hands of Toulon in the Investec Champions Cup.

Scores from Josh McKay, Jare Oguntibeju – his first in Glasgow colours – and Johnny Matthews, in addition to a penalty try, saw the Warriors take both an attacking and losing bonus-point from one of the most partisan atmospheres in the club game.

With a full house at Stade Felix Mayol creating a fervent atmosphere, the opening five minutes served an indication of what was to follow. It was the hosts who struck the first blow, Leicester Fainga’anuku finding his way over from close range to ground the ball next to the uprights. Baptiste Serin converted, and Toulon led 7-0.

The Warriors were in the mood to create problems of their own however, with Henco Venter and skipper Sione Tuipulotu leading from the front. Only some last-ditch defence would deny the former close to the line, as the visitors searched for a swift response.

Neither side was willing to give an inch in the late afternoon sun; Baptise Serin’s sniping was keeping the Glasgow defence on their toes, whilst Oguntibeju was proving prominent in the tight exchanges with ball in hand.

A spark was imminent, and it arrived on 24 minutes. From deep in his own 22, Ben Afshar’s blindside feed to Tuipulotu saw the centre charge forward, linking with Josh McKay to free Jamie Dobie out wide. The winger’s chip and charge was perfectly-timed, earning a penalty on the chase and – when impeded when trying to take a quick tap – a yellow card for Serin. From the resulting penalty, the maul proved too powerful for Toulon to stop legally, referee Matthew Carley awarding a penalty try to level the score and dispatching Lewis Ludlam to the sin-bin to reduce the hosts to 13 players.

Marius Domon would restore Toulon’s lead on 29 minutes with a penalty from halfway, repeating the feat four minutes later to extend the advantage to 13-7 in favour of the hosts. Yet with both Toulon players about to return to the field, the Warriors hit back in style. Tuipulotu was once again the catalyst, his carry and inside pass sending Kyle Rowe scorching through a gap. When the ball was recycled, Stafford McDowall’s ball over the top allowed Venter to feed McKay, the full-back racing over from 25 metres to touch down. Weir’s conversion drifted off target, leaving it a one-point game with 36 minutes played.

One final defensive shift in their own 22 saw the Warriors survive Toulon’s final attacking salvo of the opening period, Rowe capitalising on a loose ball to boot downfield and ensure the line remained intact with the clock in the red, despite a yellow card for Sam Talakai. Tuipulotu then turned try-saver just two minutes into the second half, the centre chasing down Gabin Viliere to deny the French international winger in the corner.

There was to be no denying Fainga’anuku just moments later, however, as the Toulon centre capitalised on repeated phases of possession in the Glasgow 22 to break through and touch down next to the posts. Serin converted once more, taking the score to 20-12 in favour of the hosts with 45 minutes gone.

Weir brought his team back to within a score as Talakai’s sin-bin period ticked down, only for Toulon to respond with their fourth – and bonus-point – try with seconds remaining in the man advantage. Despite calls for obstruction in midfield, Brian Alain’nuese’s try was deemed to be good, Serin converting the former Warrior’s try for a 27-15 lead.

Back came Glasgow once again, as McDowall’s clever kick and Rowe’s dogged chase earned a penalty in the Toulon 22. Whilst the maul was initially repelled, strong carrying from the Fagerson brothers – both sprung from the bench – set up the platform, before the impressive Oguntibeju found the weak shoulder to crash over for his first Glasgow try. Weir added the extras, and Glasgow were back within a score.

In a match increasingly played in the middle third of the field, every ball and every blade of grass was being fought for at full-blooded intensity. Serin nudged his side further in front with seven minutes to play, the scrum-half adding a penalty from 40 metres to make it an eight-point margin.

Glasgow were refusing to go down without a fight though, and set up a grandstand finish with two minutes remaining. A short-range tap penalty saw the Warriors batter away at the Toulon line, before Matthews’ dummy and dive saw the hooker touch down for the all-important fourth try. George Horne cooly slotted the extras from out wide, and with seconds remaining the visitors had a shot at glory.

Ultimately, however, the clock would get the better of Franco Smith’s men. Yet a two-point haul could yet prove invaluable in the context of chasing a home knockout berth, with attentions now turning to the club’s biggest-ever night-out at Hampden Park in just one week’s time.