It was brilliant occasion!

CHEER US ON IN OUR FIRST HOME GAME OF 2023

Bath Rugby 26-21 Toulon, Sat 16 Dec 2017

Back in 2017/18, Bath Rugby blew Pool 5 of the Champions Cup wide over with a stunning home victory over three-time European champions Toulon.

It was a memorable occasion for the Blue, Black and White who avenged a devastating last-gasp 24-20 loss to the Top 14 outfit the week prior.

A vociferous crowd could be heard for miles around and the noise helped Beno Obano crash over with just one minute on the clock. A perfect start.

Wales international Rhys Priestland had his golden kicking boots with him as he added two penalties to his early conversion to make it 13-0 after 13 minutes.

Toulon did manage a response midway through the first half. Scrum-half Alby Mathewson crossed after an excellent attack down the blindside and Francois Trinh-Duc’s tee-strike shrunk the deficit to three points.

That gap was only on the scoreboard for a minute with Anthony Watson touching down for his first try of the game. The England full-back raced over following good work by fellow backline men Aled Brew and Jonathan Joseph to make it 18-10.

A similar scenario took place in the latter stages of the first 40. Frenchman Trinh-Duc was accurate with another penalty ahead of Watson’s second score. He put Bath firmly in command with a superb arcing run which left three defenders standing.

With the score reading 23-13 at the interval, Toulon knew they needed to grab the first points of the second half to give themselves a chance.

They did just that on 42 minutes. Ma'a Nonu broke and fed Chris Ashton who ran a great line before finding Guihem Guirado, who passed on to lock Samu Manoa and he stretched over.

Priestland eased Bath worries with his third penalty of the match and Trinh-Duc replied to keep Toulon in touching distance. The fly-half dragged another effort wide five minutes later.

Priestland was also off target with a 73rd-minute penalty attempt which would have denied Toulon their losing bonus point, but the Bath defence held firm in a frantic finale to record a famous victory.

Bath Rugby: 15 Watson, 14 Brew, 13 Joseph, 12 Tapuai, 11 Banahan (78 Burns), 10 Priestland, 9 Cook (51 Fotuali’i); 1 Obano (66 Auterac), 2 Dunn, 3 Lahiff (51 Thomas), 4 Stooke (67 Douglas), 5 Ewels, 6 Garvey, 7 Louw, 8 Grant (66 Mercer). Unused: Van Vuuren, Wilson.

Toulon: 15 Bonneval, 14 Tuisova, 13 Bastareaud, 12 Nonu (57 Pietersen), 11 Ashton, 10 Trinh-Duc, 9 Mathewson (57 Escande); 1 Fresia (65 Delboulbes), 2 Guirado, 3 van der Merwe (65 Setiano), 4 Manoa (53 Rebbadj), 5 Romain Taofifenua (53 Kruger), 6 Lobbe (56 Lakafia), 7 Isa, 8 Vermeulen. Unused: Etrilliard.

GET YOUR TICKETS FOR TOULON AT THE REC!

Bath host Toulon on Saturday 14 January (kick-off 15:15) in what will be the Blue, Black and White's first home match of the New Year!

Cheer us on and celebrate the start of 2023 with us at The Rec for what should be another exciting game against French opposition.

WE HOPE TO SEE YOU ON 14 JAN!

Rec Rewind: Bath Rugby 26-21 Toulon

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