Bath edged out by European champions Toulon
By PA Sport
Last Updated: 11/01/16 9:53am
Bath narrowly missed out on an historic victory over European Champions Cup holders Toulon in France, losing 12-9.
George Ford kicked two drop goals after an early penalty as Bath threatened to pull off a shock win at Stade Felix Mayol.
But a late Frederic Michalak penalty, four minutes from time, denied Bath even a share of the spoils.
It meant the three-time competition winners maintained their unbeaten record at home in this tournament and closed the gap on Pool Five leaders Wasps to just two points.
Bath picked up a losing bonus point but must now win both their remaining games, against Leinster and a return match against Toulon at the Recreation Ground, to stand a chance of progressing to the quarter-finals.
The visitors lost prop Nick Auterac to injury in the warm-up but still made an ideal start when Matt Banahan exploited a gap in the Toulon midfield, which led to Ford kicking the opening points inside three minutes.
Captain Stuart Hooper disrupted Toulon's line-out but the influence of Ma'a Nonu and Josua Tuisova led to Eric Escande levelling on 15 minutes.
But Bath did not lack ambition, with the likes of Kyle Eastmond and Anthony Watson prepared to attack from deep.
And when Ford combined with Banahan to release Eastmond straight through the heart of Toulon's defence, the fly-half coolly struck a drop goal to regain the lead.
It did not last until half-time, although Bath will be frustrated at how they surrendered the lead.
Escande had already missed his second effort when Hooper was penalised for a wild challenge off the ball on Juan Smith - and the scrum-half kicked the equaliser.
Hooper recovered a lost line-out and Ford swept over a long-range drop goal within two minutes of the restart.
However, Bath could not hold on to the advantage as the scrum was penalised - despite having Toulon's set-piece on the back foot - and Escande made it 9-9.
Bath were forced to defend desperately at times. Watson finally halted a blistering break by Tuisova and Semesa Rokoduguni snuffed out the danger out wide with a smothering tackle on Smith.
Hooper then produced a telling turnover on Cooper as Toulon threatened, before Ford failed to guide a third drop goal effort between the posts from distance.
Chris Cook almost snatched the victory but failed to control an interception of great vision from a Toulon lineout.
And the home took the lead for the first time in the 76th minute with what proved to be the match winning move.
Some of their backs joined a driving maul which earned a penalty and replacement Michalak, on for the injured James O'Connor at half-time, converted.
