Ulster Fall To Two-Try Toulon

Ulster put it a hugely-committed effort but it was not enough as two-try Toulon took the spoils – 23-13 – in blustery Belfast this afternoon.

VIDEO HIGHLIGHTS: ULSTER 13 TOULON 23

Neil Doak’s men have played two and lost two in the European Champions Cup after going down to the reigning champions at a sold-out Kingspan Stadium.

The province boast an enviable home record against French clubs in Europe – 15 wins in 20 such encounters before today – however this was their first meeting with this star-studded Toulon team.

Bryan Habana’s try in first half injury-time moved Bernard Laporte’s charges 16-3 clear, with Leigh Halfpenny landing three penalties and a conversion with the wind behind him.

The visitors controlled the breakdown and tackle area, allied to centres Mathieu Bastareaud and Maxime Mermoz carrying strongly over the gain-line time and again.

Paddy Jackson’s second penalty kept Ulster in contention until Delon Armitage ran in a 59th minute intercept try that really floored the home side.

A well-worked Craig Gilroy try gave Ulster some late hope of a losing bonus point, but Ian Humphreys’ last-minute penalty attempt from halfway fell wide.

Toulon had to bring in Juan Smith for the injured Juan Fernandez Lobbe in the opening minutes and a monster Halfpenny penalty effort faded to the right of the posts.

Ulster built from a penalty on halfway, parachuting Tommy Bowe into the visitors’ 22 but Toulon’s defence was up to the task and a Steffon Armitage turnover launched them downfield.

Wiehahn Herbst gave away a scrum penalty, allowing Halfpenny to split the posts from the left, before Gilroy left Bastareaud and Delon Armitage for dead on a superb left wing surge.

Ulster’s discipline was letting them down, though, a ruck offence setting up Halfpenny’s second successful penalty for a 6-0 buffer the 14th minute.

The heavily-involved Steffon Armitage then coughed up a penalty which saw Jackson get Ulster off the mark, just entering the second quarter.

Paul Marshall got Ulster breaking from deep with a trademark quick tap, sparking the province’s best spell of the opening half. They turned down a kickable penalty but the powerful Toulon pack dealt comfortably with the subsequent lineout drive.

Toulon suffered their second injury blow when out-half Matt Giteau was forced off in the 28th minute, with his Australian compatriot James O’Connor entering the fray.

A forward pass from Halfpenny ruled out a Delon Armitage try in the right corner as the Toulon backs, with Bastareaud’s bulk causing the hosts problems, clicked into gear.

Louis Ludik soared highest to claim a garryowen from Jackson, and Marshall’s clever kick over the top forced Halfpenny to concede a lineout in his 22. Nevertheless, Toulon’s control of the breakdown kept Ulster from building momentum with ball in hand.

There were scrum issues for the Ulstermen to iron out too, as tighthead Herbst leaked another penalty which Halfpenny sent through the uprights for a 9-3 lead.

As half-time approached, Toulon began to make inroads thanks to their big ball carriers. Smith took out two defenders with a brilliant overhead pass behind him to man-of-the-match Chris Masoe who ran on to release Habana for a seven-pointer to the right of the posts.

Jackson (pictured above) swung over a much-needed penalty seven minutes into the second period, punishing Delon Armitage for a high tackle on Stuart Olding.

Young centre Olding unfortunately had to go off in the very next phase, having been the victim of a loose kick at a ruck which the match officials failed to spot.

Referee Wayne Barnes sided with Toulon in a tight scrum contest, the result of which saw Halfpenny go for goal from distance but his kick missed the target.

A Chris Henry steal, coupled with Nick Williams’ introduction in the back row, saw Ulster bounce back to win a penalty for hands in the ruck. However, Jackson slid his long range kick wide to the right.

The luck was on Toulon’s side when they scored a second try out of nothing. As Darren Cave swooped on a high ball in a promising position, Ulster worked possession wide but Delon Armitage intercepted Williams’ pass to race downfield for a sucker-punch try.

It was a killer blow and with Halfpenny converting, the deficit was out to 17 points with Toulon showing no signs of settling for that scoreline.

Rory Best (pictured above), on his 50th European Cup appearance, put in a herculean effort with some powerful counter-rucking and poaching, with the hard-working Henry matching his captain’s influence. Scrum half Marshall and try scorer Gilroy stood out in the backs.

Ulster finally got some reward in the 78th minute. Bowe ran a kick back with interest, Jared Payne’s lovely line seeing him puncture the Toulon midfield and the ball was spread out to Gilroy whose quick feet helped him finish smartly for a try which replacement Humphreys converted.

A deliberate knock-on from Habana saw the Springbok star yellow carded in the dying seconds. Humphreys took on the difficult kick from a 50-metre range, but despite a decent connection he was unable to salvage a late losing bonus point.

Giving his reaction afterwards, Ulster skipper Best said: “They destroyed us at breakdown. We have been pretty good in that area this season, especially in attack, but Chris Masoe and Steffon Armitage got over the ball and we could not get them off it.

“We could not get any ball – never mind quick ball – though we really fancied out chances today and it is very disappointing.

“But we were playing against a very good team full of great players and good players make smart decisions. They were making the right decisions 90% of the time.”

He added: “We do not expect to lose here against anyone and although we are struggling in the pool now but we will not give up, not while there is a mathematical chance of going through.

“We will keep on battling despite having talked about having to win our home games to have any chance of qualifying. But we have lost one at home and did not get much from our opening game away. It is an uphill battle for us now and we will regroup and finish this pool strongly.”