Toulon take revenge from Perpignan with a bonus point win
Toulon kept their French Top 14 hopes alive as they defeated the Perpignan at Stade Felix-Mayol, Toulon on April 23, 2011.
This is the second time that both teams have played with each other within the span of one month. Perpignan earlier defeated the Toulon during the Heineken Cup quarterfinal however the weekend defeat has resulted in omission of Perpignan from the French
Top 14 race.
Both teams build up the momentum in the game slowly as they focused more on the ball possession during the initial half of the game. Toulon have the added advantage of playing in front of their home ground were first to score as their Fly Half Jonny Wilkinson
scored on the penalty during the sixth minute of the game.
A minute later, Perpignan equalised the score with their Full Back Jerome Porical’s penalty. Perpignan then enjoyed more ball and territory possession and made fewer errors as they denied Toulon to develop a scoring momentum.
During the period, Perpignan’s Full Back has extended their lead to keep the host trailing by six points. Porical scored on the penalties during the 15th and 21st minutes leaving Toulon some work to do.
Toulon equalised during the 33rd minute after the Wilkinson’s penalty. The main action of the first half hour was the penalties scored by both Wilkinson and Porical. With two minutes remaining in the first half, Toulon’s substitute Winger Benjamin
Lapeyre cleared the Perpignan’s defence and making way for their Full Back Rory Lamont to score the first try of the match. Wilkinson scored his first conversion of the game and soon after followed it by his fourth penalty in the game to take the scorecard
reading 16 – 9 that remained until the end of the first half.
Toulon started the second half strongly and continued the momentum that they have built during the last 10 minutes of the first half. Perpignan seems to have no answer for the questions that the Toulon’s defence was asking and begin to make errors particularly
during the last 20 minutes of the game. Perpignan was only able to score three points during the second half came during the 45th minute of the game with Porical scored on penalty.
Wilkinson’s 42nd minute penalty goal was the first scoring opportunity for Toulon in the first hour. Their Centres Gabirieli Lovobalavu and Fotunuupule Auelua, scored the tries during the 60th and 69th minute followed
by their substitute Fly Half Felipe Contepomi conversions to take the scorecard to 36 – 12.
Toulon’s bonus point try was scored by Felipe Contepomi during the 78th minute and followed it by his own conversion to take the scorecard reading 43 – 12, that remained the same until the end of the first half.
Toulon will be hosted by Montpellier at Stade Yves-du-Manoir, Montpellier on Saturday May 7, 2011 as the outcomes of the game will be important for both sides.
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