Late Soury try secures Toulon win
CHAMPIONS CUP MATCH REPORT: Toulon ended their campaign on a high with a 27-24 success at Newcastle Falcons in an entertaining Pool Five encounter at Kingston Park.
Fijian centre Josh Matavesi gave Falcons the ideal start after going through for the first try of the match, with a terrific surging run. Captain Toby Flood made his conversion to give his side a 7-0 lead.
It did not last long, however, as Daniel Ikpefan levelled things up after evading Newcastle’s defensive line and finishing underneath the posts. Louis Carbonel added the extras off the tee.
Flood’s penalty did give Newcastle back the lead, but Filipo Nakosi used his immense speed to dot down in the corner. Carbonel slotted the conversion attempt from out wide.
The flyhalf then added a couple of penalties before the interval to stretch Toulon’s lead to 17-10 at half-time.
Another three-pointer after the break from Carbonel put Toulon more than a score ahead but two tries from Nemani Nagusa and Michael Young gave Newcastle a four-point advantage with just five minutes remaining.
Toulon responded immediately with prop Bastien Soury powering over to snatch the lead back from the hosts at the end.
Replacement flyhalf Anthony Belleau added the extras to finish the match 27-24 in the visitors’ favour.
The scorers:
For Newcastle Falcons:
Tries: Matavesi, Nagusa, Young
Cons: Flood 3
Pen: Flood
For Toulon:
Tries: Ikpefan, Nakosi, Soury
Cons: Carbonel 2, Belleau
Pens: Carbonel 2
The teams:
Newcastle: 15 Tom Arscott, 14 Vereniki Goneva, 13 Chris Harris, 12 Josh Matavesi, 11 Sinoti Sinoti, 10 Toby Flood (c), 9 Sonatane Takulua, 8 Nemani Nagusa, 7 Gary Graham, 6 Ryan Burrows, 5 Glen Young, 4 Will Witty, 3 Trevor Davison, 2 George McGuigan, 1 Adam Brocklebank
Replacements: 16 Santiago Socino, 17 Sami Mavinga, 18 David Wilson, 19 Tevita Cavubati, 20 Callum Chick, 21 Michael Young, 22 Brett Connon, 23 Zach Kibirige
Toulon: 15 Mathieu Smaili, 14 Daniel Ikpefan, 13 Josua Tuisova, 12 Julian Savea, 11 Filipo Nakosi, 10 Louis Carbonel, 9 Yoann Cottin, 8 Liam Messam, 7 Stephane Onambele, 6 Jean Monribot, 5 Romain Taofifenua (c), 4 Mamuka Gorgodze, 3 Marcel van der Merwe, 2 Anthony Etrillard, 1 Bruce Devaux
Replacements: 16 Bastien Soury, 17 Jean-Baptiste Gros, 18 Matthieu Loudet, 19 Corentin Vernet, 20 Anthony Belleau, 21 Mathieu Bastareaud, 22 Rhys Webb, 23 Juandré Kruger
Referee: Dan Jones (Wales)
Assistant referees: Mike English (Wales), Aled Evans (Wales)
TMO: Sean Brickell (Wales)
Source: @ChampionsCup
