Toulon hold off La Rochelle

Toulon withstood a superb La Rochelle comeback to secure a 26-20 victory over their play-off rivals in Saturday’s early kick-off.

Patrice Collazo’s men have started this season impressively but they ran into a fired up side in the opening period, who were determined to build on their victory over Stade Français last weekend.

Hugo Bonneval’s early try set the hosts on their way before Anthony Belleau and Brock James traded three-pointers.

Although James reduced the arrears with his second from the tee, Fabien Galthie’s charges were winning the physical battle and earned a penalty try after their driving maul was illegally halted by Uini Atonio.

Despite Atonio’s yellow card and another sin-binning, this time for Kini Murimurivalu, La Rochelle only conceded six points while they were off the field.

The visitors then went on to control the second period and deservedly got back into the contest via Victor Vito’s brilliantly taken effort.

James also touched down as they closed the gap further but Belleau’s late penalty sealed the win for Toulon and denied their opponents a losing bonus-point.

The scorers:

For Toulon:
Tries: Bonneval, penalty try
Con: Belleau
Pens: Belleau 4

For La Rochelle:
Tries: Vito, James
Cons: James 2
Pens: James 2
Yellow Cards: Atonio, Murimurivalu

Toulon: 15 Hugo Bonneval, 14 Josua Tuisova, 13 Mathieu Bastareaud, 12 Luke McAlister, 11 Chris Ashton, 10 Anthony Belleau, 9 Sebastien Tillous-Borde, 8 Samu Manoa, 7 Facundo Isa, 6 Juan Martin Fernandez Lobbe, 5 Romain Taofifenua, 4 Swan Reddadj, 3 Marcel van der Merwe, 2 Guilhem Guirado, 1 Florian Fresia
Replacements: 16 Antony Etrillard, 17 Xavier Chiocci, 18 Jocelino Suta, 19 Raphael Lakafia, 20 Francois Trinh-Duc, 21 JP Pietersen, 22 Eric Escande, 23 Emerick Setiano

La Rochelle: 15 Kini Murimurivalu, 14 Gabriel Lacroix,13 Paul Jordaan, 12 Geoffrey Doumayrou, 11 Vincent Rattez, 10 Brock James, 9 Jean-Victor Goillot, 8 Victor Vito, 7 Zeno Kieft, 6 Levani Botia, 5 William Demotte, 4 Jason Eaton, 3 Uini Atonio, 2 Hikairo Forbes, 1 Dany Priso
Replacements: 16 Jeremie Maurouard, 17 Mike Corbel, 18 Jone Qovu, 19 Romain Sazy, 20 Alexi Bales, 21 Steeve Barry, 22 Jeremy Sinzelle, 23 Vincent Pelo

Referee: Romain Poite
Assistant referees: Stephane Boyer, Jean-Luc Rebollal
TMO: Denis Grenouillet