Oyonnax push Toulouse all the way
Whenever the four-time champions thought they had put breathing distance between them, the plucky visitors fought-back. Timoci Matanavou was first to go over after a tight first-half before Maxime Medard crossed. But Oyonnax fought-back through Vincent Martin, before Gael Ficou looked to have won it, but there was still time for Fabien Cibray to make for a nervy final few minutes.
It was a stop-start game from the off as both sides attempted to ignite their offloading games, with no avail. Underdogs Oyonnax sent an early statement to their Top 14 rivals after eight minutes by muscling their way to a scrum-penalty, which Regis Lespinas converted. The Oyonnax outside-half made it 6-0 moments later, before Toulouse finally wrestled their way into Oyonnax territory to land a penalty of their own through Luke McAlister.
Ugo Mola's side thought they had the break-through 10 minutes before half-time when Talalelei Gray crashed over in the corner. Some smart offloading from Toulouse had Oyonnax in trouble before the ball was worked to the blindside flank, but the try was ruled out after a knock-on in the build-up.
But the breakthrough came just after the second-half restart. Toulouse kicked a penalty to the corner and shunted their way towards the line. Their drive was stopped illegally before the ball was worked out to flying wing Timoci Matanavou, who side-stepped his way over the line. McAlister converted to put Toulouse 10-6 ahead.
And the hosts finally found some breathing space after 60 minutes. Picamoles went on the charge but was stopped just short. The ball was then flung out to the backs who moved it across the pitch and into the hands of Medard, who danced inside to score. McAlister converted to take their lead to 17-6.
But Oyonnax were back in it with 10 minutes remaining through Martin. Silver Tian sparked a counter attack and streaked through the defensive line before feeding his backline colleague, who crashed over at the corner. Ficou then found some space and sliced through from 50 metres to score a sensational try, but that was not the end of this one. Cibray capitalised on some loose Toulouse offloading and raced home from 50 metres. But it was just too late and Toulouse saw out the final few minutes.
The scorers:
For Toulouse:
Tries: Matanavou, Médard, Fickou
Cons: McAlister 3
Pen: McAlister
For Oyonnax:
Tries: Martin, Cibray
Con: Robinson
Pens: Lespinas 2
Teams:
Toulouse: 15 Clément Poitrenaud, 14 Maxime Médard, 13 Gael Fickou, 12 Florian Fritz, 11 Timoci Matanavou, 10 Luke McAlister, 9 Jean-Marc Doussain, 8 Louis Picamoles, 7 Imanol Harinordoquy, 6 Talalelei Gray, 5 Romain Millo-Chluski, 4 Yoann Maestri (captain), 3 Dorian Aldegheri, 2 Christopher Tolofua, 1 Vasil Kakovin.
Replacements: 16 Julien Marchand, 17 Nemiah Tialata, 18 Census Johnston, 19 Joe Tekori, 20 Gregory Lamboley, 21 David Mele, 22 Yann David, 23 Arthur Bonneval.
Oyonnax: 15 Florian Denos, 14 Silvère Tian, 13 Vincent Martin, 12 Eamonn Sheridan, 11 Fetu'u Vainikolo, 10 Regis Lespinas, 9 Fabien Cibray (captain), 8 Viliami Ma'afu, 7 Olivier Missoup, 6 Pierrick Gunther, 5 Leon Power, 4 George Robson, 3 Antoine Guillamon, 2 Jody Jenneker, 1 Laurent Delboulbès.
Replacements: 16 Jeremie Maurouard, 17 Soane Tonga'uiha, 18 Marc Clerc, 19 Valentin Ursache, 20 Pedrie Wannenburg, 21 Piri Weepu, 22 Nicky Robinson, 23 Geoffrey Fabbri.
Referee: Matthew Carley (England)
Assistant Referees: Andrew Jackson (England), Robin Goodliffe (England)
TMO: Stuart Terheege (England)
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