Frederic Michalak scored a penalty four minutes from time to keep champions Toulon in the hunt for the European Champions Cup knockout rounds on Sunday.
The France international came off the bench to give Toulon a 12-9 victory over dogged Bath, who deserved more from a game they lit up with some ambitious and at times scintillating running rugby.
George Ford kicked two drop goals for the visitors, but they came up short and a second straight Pool 5 defeat leaves them with little chance of making the last eight.
Photo: AFP
“I’m not sure the best team won,” Toulon manager Bernard Laporte said. “We played a great team, but what is sure is that we had more try-scoring chances. Bath based their game on territory, but the result is that their competition is over and we’re still on course.”
Toulon are now just two points behind group leaders Wasps, who must still travel to the south of France.
The first half was far more entertaining than the scoreline suggested after Eric Escande scored a pair of penalties in response to Ford knocking over one and adding a drop goal in what had been an enjoyable match.
Ford knocked over another drop goal early in the second period as an adventurous Bath side frequently attacked from deep.
Toulon started to get their own running game into gear and Escande leveled matters for a third time, but after resisting a long period of Bath pressure, during which time Ford narrowly knocked another drop goal wide, Toulon steamrollered up the other end and won the decisive penalty.
Also on Sunday, Ulster produced a stirring second-half fightback to keep Irish interest alive as they won 24-23 at Oyonnax.
Paddy Jackson kicked a penalty three minutes from time to complete a remarkable turnaround after Ulster went into the break trailing 23-0.
That kick kept alive their hopes of reaching the knockout stages as they closed the gap to Pool 1 leaders Saracens to six points.
Oyonnax, who had already been eliminated themselves having lost all their previous matches, played without fear and scored a try through Jeremie Maurouard after just seven minutes.
Nicky Robinson kicked the conversion and three penalties, before Uwanakaro Tawalo picked up a loose pass from deep inside his own 22 and broke clear to score a second try, also converted, on the stroke of halftime.
However, Ulster showed great heart in the second period, in which they almost never let the hosts out of their own half.
Rory Scholes got them on the board just three minutes in, before tries from Craig Gilroy and Kyle McCall, converted by Jackson, made it a two-point game with 12 minutes left.
Oyonnax could not hold out and Jackson had the final word.
Ulster probably still need to get a result away to Saracens in their final match in order to make the last eight, though.
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