Toulon 24
Leinster 9
REIGNING CHAMPIONS TOULON gave themselves a European Champions Cup lifeline while adding further hammer blows to any lingering Leinster hope in Stade Mayol today.
Having lost heavily 32-6 to Wasps in their opening Pool 5 clash, Toulon needed a win at home to keep themselves in the hunt against fellow three-time former winners Leinster, whose third defeat in a row now effectively all but ends their interest in the competition.
English flanker Steffon Armitage scored two tries as Toulon scrum-half Eric Escande kicked 14 points compared to just nine from the boot of Leinster fly-half Jonathan Sexton.
Having lost their opening two group matches, Leinster knew anything other than victory would be a disaster and they started in determined fashion with Sexton kicking over two penalties in the first five minutes.
Toulon were quick to respond, though, when Matt Giteau chose to kick a penalty to the corner and the powerful French pack did the rest, winning their line-out and then driving Armitage over for a try that Escande converted. But after Escande and Sexton exchanged penalties, Toulon could not make anything of a numerical advantage after Ireland prop Cian Healy was sin-binned, as a drab half of rugby ended 10-9 to the hosts.
Ireland lock Devin Toner was also yellow-carded early in the second period and this time Escande kicked two penalties to punish the ill-disciplined visitors.
There was still time for Escande to notch another penalty before Tom Denton stupidly picked up a third yellow card for Leinster with 30 seconds left.
Toulon kicked to the corner and Armitage drove through a ragged Irish defence for his second try.
