Toulouse set their sights on Edinburgh and top spot in pool two with a
hard-fought Heineken Cup win over Leeds at Headingley.
The European champions - beaten by Edinburgh at the start of the campaign -
can overhaul the Gunners when the two sides meet in France next weekend.
But they were tested by a Leeds side who had looked down and out at 24-3 down
early in the second half.
It was a much-improved performance by Leeds in contrast to their meek
surrender to Edinburgh here last Sunday.
Leeds coach Phil Davies made seven changes to the side that lost 23-0 to the
Gunners.
England international Dan Scarbrough and Liam Botham returned to the wings.
Phil Christophers moved from wing to centre while Scotland international
Gordon Ross was reinstated at fly-half.
In the pack, Gary Howell replaced Matt Holt at prop, Stuart Hooper returned to
the second row after a three-week absence through injury. Aaron Persico and Colm
Rigney were also welcomed back.
Leeds started strongly and made significant gains with dashing runs from
Christophers and Tom Palmer.
That forced Toulouse to give away a penalty, allowing Ross to get the first
points on the board three minutes in.
Sustained pressure from the Tykes saw the European champions pegged into their
own half for much of the opening period.
But a lack of guile and the occasional panicked pass meant they struggled to
take advantage of Toulouse's slow start.
The French tore back and won what looked like a straightforward penalty in
front of the Leeds posts 20 minutes in.
But, with cat-calls ringing out around Headingley, Frederic Michalak fluffed
his kick, sending it spinning feebly wide.
However, more Leeds indiscipline presented Toulouse with another penalty in
the 23rd minute.
This time Michalak stepped aside for Jean-Baptiste Elissalde who made no
mistake with his kick.
Leeds should have scored the day's first try after half-an-hour when a
thrilling break forward by Matt Cardey carved open the Toulouse right.
But the French recovered in time to frustrate the move.
Toulouse showed what they were capable of moments later, spinning the ball
quickly to the right to leave Ross exposed.
But the fly-half's embarrassment was covered by Cardey mopping up on his own
try line and Leeds held on until the break.
Benoit Baby was the game's first casualty, taken off on a stretcher three
minutes into the second half with his leg bound. Nicolas Jeanjean came on as a
straight replacement.
But Toulouse were not knocked out of their stride and capitalised on turn-over
ball to spin the ball out to the left.
A clever reverse pass from Vincent Clerc was collected by Jeanjean, whose
first act since coming on was to touch the ball down between the posts.
Elissalde converted to give Toulouse a 10-3 lead after 46 minutes.
Davies responded by sending on Gavin Kerr for his first start of the season
along with Dan Hyde and Diego Albanese. Stuart Hooper, Powell and Colm Rigney
came off.
But Toulouse continued to dominate the home side and Michalak just missed with
an ambitious drop-goal attempt.
Trevor Brennan piled over from close range for Toulouse's second try after 54
minutes and Elissalde added a conversion as Leeds looked close to collapse at
17-3.
As a sign of the visitors' confidence, France hooker Yannick Bru was taken off
and William Servat sent on after 57 minutes.
Toulouse continued to pile forward and they were rewarded with their third try
when Michalak created an opening for Cedric Desbrosse to thunder through under
the posts in the 58th minute.
Elissalde had no trouble with the conversion, taking Toulouse's lead to 24-3.
Leeds were offered a chink of hope when Clerc was sin-binned and the Tykes
took immediate advantage of their extra man.
Winning turnover ball, Leeds spun the ball left via Ross to Scarbrough who
crossed in the 66th minute. Ross missed with his conversion but at 24-8 the
scoreline was more respectable.
Scarbrough created another break to feed Albanese for his first try of the
season after 71 minutes. Ross converted and Leeds suddenly looked to have a
fighting chance just 24-15 down.
But Toulouse showed why they are European champions by driving over at the
other end two minutes later with Christian Labit claiming the try and Elissalde
converting to restore Toulouse's 16-point lead.
Leeds fought back again, however, with the towering Phil Murphy crashing
through the Toulouse defence before handing off to Mark Regan who touched down
by the flag after 76 minutes.
Ross made the difficult conversion out by the right touchline to close the gap
to 31-22.
Teams:
Leeds: Cardey, Botham, Christophers, Snyman, Scarbrough, Ross,
Walker, Shelley, Regan, Powell, Hooper, Palmer, Rigney,
Persico, Popham.
Replacements: Albanese for Botham (48),
Rawlinson for Regan (77), Kerr for Powell (48),
Hyde for Rigney (48), Murphy for Popham (67).
Not Used: Walsh, Davies.
Tries: Scarbrough, Albanese, Regan.
Cons: Ross 2.
Pens: Ross.
Toulouse: Poitrenaud, Ntamack, Desbrosse, Baby, Clerc,
Michalak, Elissalde, Collazo, Bru, Poux, Gerard, Brennan,
Bouihlou, F. Maka, Labit.
Replacements: Heymans for Poitrenaud (74),
Jean-Jean for Baby (43), Delaigue for Elissalde (75),
Servat for Bru (54), Millochlusky for Gerard (72),
I. Maka for F. Maka (60).
Not Used: Lecouls.
Tries: Jean-Jean, Brennan, Desbrosse, Labit.
Cons: Elissalde 4.
Pens: Elissalde.
Att: 4,253
Ref: Greg Davies (SRU).
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