Toulouse back on track with win

Toulouse 19 Leeds Tykes 3

Defending Heineken Cup champions Toulouse got their campaign back on track with a hard-fought victory at Stade Ernest Wallon tonight.

The French heavyweights, still reeling from last weekend’s shock loss to Edinburgh, hit back through French star Frederic Michalak, who slotted four crucial goals in front of 12,500 fans, before impressive centre Yannick Jauzion scored in the final minute to seal the victory.

Leeds camped in Toulouse territory in the opening quarter, but could not make the most of their dominance up front. Their front row – led by the massive Andrew Sheridan – dominated their French rivals, but the visiting backs could not put enough phases together to get on the scoreboard.

The Tykes’ inability to score proved costly in the second quarter, with France’s World Cup hero Michalak slotting two penalty goals before the defending champions moved up a gear and nearly scored through Jauzion.

It took a professional foul from Tykes full-back Dan Scarbrough – which earned him a yellow card from referee Nigel Owens – to stop the try on the Leeds line, but Michalak kicked the ensuing penalty to give the home side a 9-0 lead at the break.

Jauzion, who had a terrific match to earn the man-of-the-match honours, ‘scored’ in the right-hand corner, but referee Owens ruled that his centre partner Benoit Baby prevented the defenders from coming across.

The Welsh referee then got the yellow cards out as the scrum collapsed, with rival props Gary Powell (Leeds) and Patrice Collazo earning a 10-minute rest.

Michalak and Leeds fly-half Tim Walsh traded penalty goals, before Jauzion sealed the match with a well-taken score.