Unlucky exiles beaten by five points

Toulouse 28 London Irish 23

Player coach Brendan Venter was sent off as his London Irish side were beaten by five points by Toulouse in Pool Five of the Heineken Cup.

The visitors, leading until the 55th minute, were inspired by outside half Barry Everitt who kicked four penalties and two drop goals as Irish dominated the game for long periods.

They held a slender 12-11 lead at the interval and started the second half in impressive fashion, but the Toulouse defence held firm and the French side took control during the latter stages.

Toulouse did not get near the Irish line in the opening 10 minutes but they then grabbed the opening try.

A simple back row move took the Irish defence to ground and New Zealander Isitolo Maka dived over for Toulouse.

Everitt kept his side in contention, but it all went wrong after the interval.

Venter dented his side’s hopes when he was sent off for a head high tackle on Toulouse’s Christian Labit.

And Toulouse took full advantage to add to Irish’s poor start to the current campaign.

Toulouse outscored their opponents by three tries to one, with a double from Xavier Garbajosa adding to Maka’s opening score.

Jean-Baptiste Elissalde converted two tries and added two penalties with Michalak also kicking a long-range penalty.

For the Irish, Everitt took the honours, but they were left to reflect on losing a game that they could have won.

Nick Burrows scored Irish’s only try.