Early scare for Toulon in Top 14

Mon, Apr 18, 2016, 3:10 AM
Beth Newman
by Beth Newman
Flying solo, James O'Connor. Photo: AFP
Flying solo, James O'Connor. Photo: AFP

Toulon overcame an early scare to defeat a struggling Pau side in the Top 14.

Toulon found itself down 9-6 at half-time before a second-half blitz handed them a 25-9 win, keeping them in touch with top two sides Clermont and Montpellier.

James O’Connor was the sole Aussie rep in the side, playing on the left wing, with Drew Mitchell still injured, Matt Giteau rested and Quade Cooper not named.

Adam Ashley-Cooper played at outside centre in Bordeaux’s tight loss to La Rochelle, while Sekope Kepu played 54 minutes at tighthead.

Just one try was scored in the match as La Rochelle prevailed 22-15, leaving Bordeaux floundering in the middle of the top 14 table.

Nic White started at halfback for Montpellier in a six-point win over Stade Francais, while fellow Aussie Ben Lucas slotted two penalties for the side, playing at flyhalf.

Peter Kimlin played 38 minutes in a tight 28-33 Grenoble loss to Castres Olympique.

Grenoble sits 10th in the top 14  with a 10-11 record for the season so far.

PREMIERSHIP

Peter Betham featured for Leicester in the Premiership. Photo: Getty images

Cooper Vuna scored a try for Worcester but it wasn’t enough to help his side over the line against the Wasps.

Wasps’ winger Christian Wade had six of his own among 13 tries scored in the match, out of step with the usually grinding efforts in Northern Hemisphere rugby.

Wasps sit second in the Premiership now, four points adrift of ladder-leading Saracens after 20 matches.

Peter Betham played a full game at outside centre in a six-point Leicester win over Northampton.

The Tigers’ victory give them a seven-point buffer over the Saints, who sit just one place below them on the ladder.

PRO12

Taqele Naiyaravoro came off the bench for Glasgow in a 56-10 thumping of Scarlets on Sunday morning.

Naiyaravoro played just 10 minutes in the match, with a win keeping Glasgow just two points out of the competition's top two.

Luke Burgess was named on the bench but didn’t feature for Zebre in a 47-17 loss to Ulster.

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