Edinburgh stun Toulon on Champions Cup return

Edinburgh's Pierre Schoeman is pulled back by Toulon's David Ribbans during the Investec Champions Cup match at Scottish Gas Murrayfield Stadium, Edinburgh. Picture: Steve Welsh/PA Wire 

Edinburgh marked their return to the Champions Cup with an impressive 33-20 victory over Toulon.

In their first match in the competition for three years, Edinburgh fought back from an early deficit, scoring four tries to secure the bonus point at a wet Hive Stadium.

Scotland’s Ben White was the key man for Toulon in the early stages, crossing for two tries either side of one for Edinburgh from Pierre Schoeman to put the French side 17-10 ahead.

But Edinburgh pulled back to within two points with a 29th-minute try from Ben Vellacott, and Cammy Scott’s penalty edged them ahead.

Darcy Graham was unfortunate to have what appeared another try chalked off for a knock on before both sides slotted over penalties, then Toulon’s David Ribbans was sent to the sin bin for throwing an arm into the face of Liam McConnell.

Edinburgh took full advantage, being rewarded for pressure in the scrum with a penalty try on the hour mark, and Boan Venter finished off the scoring with their fourth try, six minutes from time.

George Hendy’s late try ensured a winning start for last season’s beaten finalists Northampton as they saw off Pau 35-27 at Stade du Hameau.

With the score locked at 27-27 with two minutes remaining, wing Hendy raced in at the corner to edge Saints ahead before Fin Smith’s penalty in the dying moments sealed his side’s thrilling win in their opening pool game.

Pau played their part in a see-saw battle, while Northampton crucially overcame the loss of Australian wing James Ramm, who scored two of Saints’ five tries before receiving a red card early in the second half.

Northampton trailed 14-12 at half-time after twice responding to tries from Pau skipper Facundo Isa and wing Gregoire Arfeuil with scores of their own through Ramm and centre Fraser Dingwall.

After Ramm went over for his second score, Axel Desperes’ penalty for Pau levelled it at 17-17 and, following Ramm’s sending-off for a tackle in the air, Arfeuil went over for his second try, which was converted, to put Pau 24-17 ahead.

But Alex Mitchell’s converted score levelled it up at 24-24 and, after Smith and Desperes had traded penalties, Hendy went over for the decisive try before Smith’s second penalty in the dying moments sealed a hard-fought win.

A late push eased Gloucester to a 34-14 victory our Castres in their opener at Kingsholm.

The match had been level at 14-14 with 20 minutes to go before the home side streaked to the win, thanks largely to two late tries from substitute Charlie Atkinson, the second of which with almost the final play ensuring they picked up a winning bonus point.

Castres had taken the early initiative and gone in front through a converted try in the ninth minute from Vuate Karawalevu.

Freddie Thomas went over for Gloucester’s first score before the visitors regained the lead through Loris Zarantonello’s converted try.

Will Trenholm crossed over to level things once more before fly-half Ross Byrne kicked two penalties to edge Gloucester into a lead they would not relinquish.

That set things up for Atkinson to seal victory late on and move his side second behind Bath in Pool 2.

In Toulouse, Italy international Ange Capuozzo scored a hat-trick of tries as Toulouse saw off the South African franchise Sharks 56-19 in their Champions Cup opener on Sunday. Durban-based Sharks rested the majority of their Springbok players.