Ashton hat-trick helps Toulon ‘thrash’ Stade

Fekitoa injured

Leverkusen’s Croatian defender Tin Jedvaj (left), and Hamburg’s Brazilian defender Douglas dos Santos vie for the ball during the German First Division football match between Hamburger SV and Bayer Leverkusen, in Hamburg, northern Germany. (AFP)

PARIS, Feb 17, (AFP): Chris Ashton scored his second hat-trick of the season as Toulon romped to a 43-5 victory over Stade Francais in the French Top 14 on Saturday.

The former England international extended his remarkable scoring run since making the switch to France from Saracens at the start of the season and has now scored 17 tries in the league.

Toulon had a try bonus in the bag by half-time to cement their place in the top six play-off spots.

Although Ashton deservedly took the headlines for a typically predatory performance, it was fly-half Francois Trinh-Duc’s soft hands that ran the show.

Trinh-Duc celebrated his recall to the France squad for next weekend’s through a hole and when he was hauled down a couple of metres short of the line, fellow wing Ashton arrived to catch a pop pass from the ground and flop over the line.

Trinh-Duc converted again and Toulon went into the break leading 22-0.

The only blip on an otherwise perfect first half was seeing New Zealand international centre Malakai Fekitoa leave the field for a head injury assessment after seemingly being knocked out when tackling Stade midfielder Theo Millet, whose shoulder connected with the All Black’s jaw.

On his return after a threeweek ban for uttering a homophobic slur, Mathieu Bastareaud — who like Trinh-Duc has been recalled to the France squad — extended Toulon’s lead after barging over from close range despite the attentions of three tacklers.

Trinh-Duc converted before making way for Jonathan Wisniewski.

The one-way traffic continued as Ashton took the ball up close to Stade’s line and scrum-half Eric Escande strolled over for the fifth try, with the visitors’ defence stretched and disorganised.

The Parisians did get on the scoreboard on 63 minutes with a simple catch-and-drive from a line-out as Laurent Panis crossed.

Ashton