Friday 21 October 2016 22:07, UK
Toulon got their Champions Cup campaign up and running with a hard-fought 15-5 win over Sale Sharks on Friday evening.
First half tries from Charles Ollivon and Leigh Halfpenny sent the three-times European Champions into the break with a commanding 15-5 lead over their hosts, Sale replying with a score of their own from winger Paolo Odogwu.
Sale dominated their opponents after the break but they failed to make their pressure tell in a scoreless second half.
Magnus Lund was shown yellow after just five minutes for a late tackle on Juan-Martin Ferndanez-Lobbe, Halfpenny further punishing the home side kicking the resulting penalty with help from the left-hand upright.
Toulon made their numerical advantage count moments later when back-row Ollivon charged through the Sharks' defence and over the line, Halfpenny's conversion taking the score to 10-0.
The Welsh full-back further added to Sales' woes when he crossed over for Toulon's second try, Francois Trinh-Duc orchestrating the move, his cross field kick evading the grasp of the covering Byron McGuigan, allowing Bryan Habana to collect sending Halfpenny over for the score.
Duane Vermeulen became the second player to be sent for 10 minutes on the sidelines, the Toulon skipper adjudged to have tripped Sam James by referee Ben Whitehouse.
Sale made sure they went into the break with something to show for their efforts when winger Odogwu exploited the gap on the short-side to go over unopposed after 32 minutes, Will Addison's conversion going wide leaving his side 15-5 down.
Addison missed the chance to drag his side to within a converted try 15 minutes into the second forty as his penalty attempt in front of the posts bounced off the woodwork.
Sale resisted early second-half pressure but struggled to get out of their territory. They were fortunate that the normally reliable Halfpenny was wide with a penalty attempt from distance.
The visitors struggled for possession from that point on, saved only by Sale's inability to turn pressure into points. The home side turning down the chance of three points on a trio of occasions, each time failing to register a score.
Sale continued to fight for the losing bonus point as the clock went red but it was not to be for Steve Diamond's men who were left wondering what could have been despite a spirited performance against the former Champions.
