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          European Rugby Champions Cup 2017
          ToulonToulonRC
          31
          11/12FT
          20
          ScarletsScarletsSCA
          • Mamuka Gorgodze(5')
          • Leigh Halfpenny(26')
          • Romain Taofifenua(30')
          • Guilhem Guirado(52')
          • Leigh Halfpenny(6', 28', 32', 53')
          • Leigh Halfpenny(12')
          • Ken Owens(36')
          • John Barclay(79')
          • Rhys Patchell(37', 79')
          • Rhys Patchell(14', 25')
          • SummarySummary
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          • CommentaryCommentary
          • Match StatsMatch Stats
          • Player StatsPlayer Stats
          • LineupsLineups
          • TableTable

          Leigh Halfpenny guides Toulon to bonus point win over Scarlets

          BERTRAND LANGLOIS/AFP/Getty Images
          • PA Sport
          Multiple Authors
          Dec 11, 2016, 12:37 PM ET
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          Toulon were made to work hard by Scarlets as they recorded a 31-20 bonus-point win to keep up the pressure on Saracens in Pool 3 of the European Champions Cup.

          Mike Ford's side were heavy favourites to return to winning ways after being beaten by Saracens in their last home Champions Cup encounter and they did exactly that as Mamuka Gorgodze, Leigh Halfpenny and Romain Taofifenua all scored before the break.

          Ken Owens responded for the Welsh side, but Guilhem Guirado scored Toulon's crucial fourth try at the start of the second half.

          Wales full-back Halfpenny was inch-perfect from the tee with 11 points as the Scarlets returned home pointless despite John Barclay's late effort.

          It didn't take long for the French giants to move ahead, their first try coming within five minutes after a powerful burst from Mathieu Bastareaud saw the giant centre break clear and, although he was stopped just short of the line, Gorgodze dived over from the next ruck.

          Halfpenny converted and then exchanged penalties with Rhys Patchell to make it 10-3, but it was still Toulon who were the dominant force, especially at the contact area.

          The Welsh side remained keen to move their opposition around the field though, spreading the ball wide at almost every opportunity and a second Patchell penalty narrowed the gap to four.

          Toulon's lead was soon extended as yet another powerful Bastareaud carry allowed Halfpenny to sprint in and score and Taiofifenua reached for the line to add a third.

          Halfpenny converted both tries and while Owens scored just before the break from close range, Toulon still turned around 24-13 ahead.

          Home fly-half Pierre Bernard, an impressive figure in the first period, got the game restarted but it was the visitors who began the second half the better.

          Hadleigh Parkes put the Scarlets on the front foot, before a floated pass from Scott Williams put Steffan Evans over in the corner.

          But referee Alex Ruiz, via the TMO, decided Williams had knocked on before finding Evans and the score was ruled out.

          The decision looked touch and go, and it proved to be the crucial moment.

          Instead of scoring their second try, the Scarlets promptly conceded their fourth at the other end.

          Guirado emerged from a huge line-out surge with the ball and when Halfpenny nailed the touchline conversion, the game was up.

          Both sides rung the changes midway through the second period and the final quarter saw the game flow from end-to-end as the Scarlets refused to fold.

          Wayne Pivac's men actually had more of the ball and Taiofifenua saw yellow for dragging down a maul, allowing Barclay to score what was in the end a late consolation.

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          Standings

          Pool 1
          RTeamGPPDP
          1GLA4+4920
          2STA4+9412
          3SAL4-3811
          4SAR4+1310
          5SHA4-1010
          6ASM4-1080
          Pool 2
          RTeamGPPDP
          1BAT4+9116
          2RC4+1714
          3CAS4-810
          4EDI4-7110
          5MUN4-28
          6GLO4-276
          Pool 3
          RTeamGPPDP
          1LEI4+3518
          2HAR4+9815
          3STO4-814
          4LEI4+36
          5STA4-136
          6BAY4-1150
          Pool 4
          RTeamGPPDP
          1UNI4+7620
          2NOR4+4616
          3BRI4+5014
          4BUL4-687
          5SEC4-506
          6SCA4-543
          Full Table

          European Rugby Champions Cup 2017 News

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            La Rochelle became the fifth team to win back-to-back European Champions Cups on Saturday when they clawed back a 17-point deficit to beat Leinster 27-26 at the Aviva Stadium in another breathless final between the sides.

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