The Japan Times - Toulon, Bath reach last eight of Champions Cup

Top 14 side Toulon made a perfect start at the Stade Mayol as Scotland scrum-half Ben White slithered through for an early try.

But the Cape Town-based Stormers came back with a penalty before lock Adre Smith piled over for a converted try.

The lead did not last long as a superb long pass from Argentina fly-half Tomas Albornoz found Gael Drean in space on the left. The France wing collected, cut inside and dotted down.

Jurie Matthee's penalty cut Toulon's lead to 14-13 at the break.

Stormers reclaimed the lead when Warrick Gelant chased down replacement Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu's through kick, recycling for eighthman Evan Roos to crash over.

Toulon's reclaimed their one-point lead with a converted try from Mathis Ferte and stretched that further when Fiji winger Seta Tuicuvu jinked his way through the South African defence 15 minutes from the end.

If Toulon thought it was all over at 28-20, Stormers had other ideas with replacement scrum-half Imad Khan going over two minutes from time to narrow the gap to a single point.

With 19 seconds remaining Toulon's All Black legend Ma'a Nonu, 43, collected a yellow and gave away a penalty for a dangerous tackle.

Stormers kicked for touch and launched a fierce assault on the Toulon line. Smith thought he had won the match with his second try but the video referee saw no clear evidence and Toulon got through by the skin of their teeth.

They go forward to the quarter-finals for the second year running and will play either Glasgow or Pretoria-based Bulls, who meet later on Saturday.

- Bath comeback -

It was quickly clear at the Rec that there would be no repetition of the result in the Prem earlier in the season when Bath ran in nine tries in a 62-15 hammering of Saracens.

The home side looked nervous as the three-time champions took an early grip on the match with Charlie Bracken's try helping them into a 10-0 lead at the break.

England winger Henry Arundell brought Bath back into the game with a brilliant solo try three minutes after the break and even though they lost prop Beno Obana to a yellow card, the home side scored again through winger Joe Cokanasiga to go into the lead for the first time.

Nine minutes later, Bath sprung from die-hard defence as Saracens threatened their line to a sweeping counter-attack up the other end and a try from Ben Spencer.

Leading 19-10, the game appeared to be Bath's but Sarries hit back through Max Malins to make it a nervous final 10 minutes.

The visitors, however, lost Harry Wilson to a yellow card and Ollie Lawrence went over to send Bath into a last eight meeting with Northampton who beat Castres 49-41 win on Friday.

Later Saturday, record champions Toulouse, who are runaway leaders of France's Top 14, host Bristol while Harlequins meet fellow Prem side Sale.

K.Inoue--JT